One of the best seasons in the history of the Hillsdale College softball program came to a close on Friday afternoon, as the Chargers couldn't get going offensively in a tough 5-0 loss to Illinois-Springfield in an elimination matchup in the NCAA Midwest Regional in Indianapolis.
The Chargers fell behind early, giving up a run in each of the first two innings, but kept the game within reach until late, when a three-run seventh inning by the Prairie Stars allowed UIS to pull away and advance.
Hillsdale did threaten to score at times, getting a two-out double from Grace Wallner in the bottom of the first inning, and drawing back-to-back walks to get a runner in scoring position with no outs in the bottom of the second.
The Chargers' best chance at a breakthrough came in the bottom of the fourth, when Hillsdlae got back-to-back singles from McKenna Eichholz and Taylor Lewis to get two on base, then moved both into scoring position on a fly-out. Hillsdale had the go-ahead run at the plate but the breakthrough hit proved elusive once again.
Hillsdale threatened again in the fifth, once again stringing together back-to-back singles from Hailey Holtman and Janie West to get a runner in scoring position with one out, but the Prairie Stars turned a double play on the next at bat to end the threat.
Joni Russell took the loss for Hillsdale, striking out two and walking three in three and one-third innings. Erin Kapteyn pitched in relief for the Chargers, striking out two and walking two in three and two-thirds innings of relief as well.
While the loss stings, it doesn't diminish another great season for the Chargers, who are continuing to build up their program into one where success and playing in the NCAA Tournament is the expectation. Hillsdale finishes the season with a 35-21 record, the third-most wins in program history and the most since back-to-back 40-win seasons in 1990 and 1991. The Chargers also captured their third G-MAC Tournament title in six seasons, and made the NCAA Regional for just the fifth time in program history, but the fourth time in the last six seasons.
Hillsdale will miss graduated senior Jenna Cantalupo, the 2023 G-MAC Tournament MVP and a steady hand at first base whose clutch hits helped deliver a G-MAC regular season title in 2022 and the G-MAC Tourney title in 2023. But despite her departure, the future remains extremely bright for the Chargers, as every other player on the team, including all four pitchers from one of the best pitching staffs in program history, are slated to return for the 2024 season.
The Chargers will work hard in the offseason to build towards the next step in 2024, and look to integrate a strong freshman class as well.