On an opening day of the 2023 G-MAC Tournament that was marked by notable upsets, the Hillsdale College softball team took care of business and remained in the winner's bracket with a 3-0 victory over seventh-seeded Ashland on Wednesday.
The second-seeded Chargers took the field to play the Eagles just a few minutes after top-seeded Ohio Dominican fell to eighth-seeded Tiffin in the first game of the day, a stark reminder that in the G-MAC Softball Tournament in particular, a higher seed provides no protection from being knocked out by a lower-ranked team.
The early going of the game wasn't smooth sailing for the Chargers, either, as the Eagles got their first two batters on and into scoring position with no outs in the top of the first inning, and took advantage of three Hillsdale errors to load the bases in the top of the second as well.
In both cases, however, the Chargers were able to shake off adversity and get out of the jam. Hillsdale sophomore Joni Russell, who just a few minutes before the start of the game was named the 2023 G-MAC Pitcher of the Year, showed why in the top of the first inning, striking out Ashland's No. 3 and 4 hitters and inducing a groundout to second base to end the threat.
In the next inning, with Ashland again threatening, Russell again got two huge strikeouts, and junior third baseman Grace Wallner fielded a ground ball and made a diving play back to third for the final out of the inning, ending the threat without allowing the Eagles to score.
With the Eagles' biggest threat parried, Hillsdale's offense got to work. Wallner hit a RBI single in the bottom of the first inning to score freshman Emma Sather and give Hillsdale an early 1-0 lead, and the Chargers added an insurance run in the bottom of the third when Hillsdale's lone senior, Jenna Cantalupo, hit a triple down the left field line to score sophomore Emma Vis from second.
In the bottom of the fourth, freshman pinch hitter Katie Matzat delivered another run for the Chargers, stepping in and knocking a single into right field to score fellow freshman Maggie Olaveson and give Hillsdale a 3-0 edge.
Ashland made one final push in the top of the seventh inning, stringing together back-to-back hits to bring the tying run to the plate, but Russell ended the threat with her 13th strikeout of the game to clinch the victory for the Chargers.
Russell went all seven innings in a masterful performance to improve to 17-6 on the season, striking out 13 batters, scattering four hits and giving up no earned runs and no walks. Hailey Holtman went 2 for at the plate as well for Hillsdale in the victory.
Hillsdale is now 32-18 overall, and moves on to the winner's bracket semifinal on Thursday at 12:30 p.m. where a stiff test awaits against third-seeded Trevecca Nazarene, who won a 2-0 contest over Northwood on Wednesday to advance. The Trojans were the preseason G-MAC title favorite and split with the Chargers earlier this season in two tense, low-scoring affairs, with a high likelihood that Thursday's game will be much the same.
Photo Courtesy of the Great Midwest Athletic Conference