The Hillsdale College softball team capped a solid weekend with an exciting, come-from-behind victory in its final game at the Glenville State Softball Invitational this weekend.
Trailing 3-2 in extra innings against West Virginia St., Madison Stoner hit a single to the outfield to score Natalie Stepanenko and Sam Catron to give the Chargers a 4-3 walk-off win over the Yellow Jackets.
Hillsdale had led early on thanks to a RBI double by Elaine Townley in the bottom of the second inning, and when West Virginia St. took the lead with a two-run single in the top of the sixth inning, Catron hit a solo home run in the bottom of the sixth to get the Chargers back to even.
But Hillsdale missed a chance to end the game in the bottom of the seventh with a runner on third, and West Virginia St. had struck first in extras with a RBI single on the top of the eighth, setting the stage for Stoner's big hit.
Sarah Wojcik and Emma Johnson each added a single in the victory, and Dana Weidinger earned the win in relief, striking out four in three innings. Freshman Erin Kapteyn made her first start for the Chargers, going five innings and giving up one strikeout, one walk and two earned runs in a no-decision.
Hillsdale had started the weekend in West Virginia with a 7-0 win over host Glenville St., pounding out 12 hits to roll past the Pioneers.
Renee Bielawa went 3 for 4 with a double and three RBIs to lead Hillsdale at the plate against Glenville St., Catron went 2 for 4 with a double and a RBI, Stepanenko chipped in a two-run double, Stoner added a triple and Madison Rathbun hit a double as well.
Weidinger pitched a complete game two-hitter to earn the shutout victory for the Chargers, striking out eight and walking two.
Hillsdale suffered its only loss in the nightcap on Friday, rallying from a 7-2 deficit with four runs in the fifth and sixth innings, but coming up short in an 8-6 loss to Shepherd.
Natalie Stepanenko hit a two-run double for the Chargers against the Rams, Sam Catron added a two-run single, and Madison Stoner hit a home run for Hillsdale at the plate. Renee Bielawa went 2 for 5 with a double as well in the loss.
Julia Sayles took the loss for the Chargers, striking out four and walking four in five innings of work, and Kapteyn pitched an inning of relief as well.
Before the drama-filled win over West Virginia St. on Saturday, the Chargers opened the day with a 7-0 win over Charleston, keyed by another dominant performance on the mound by Weidinger.
The fifth-year senior pitched another complete game two-hitter with eight strikeouts and one walk to earn the shutout and finish the weekend with three wins in four games.
At the plate, freshman Hailey Holtman hit her first career home run to lead the Chargers, while Townley went 2 for 3 with a double and a RBI as well for Hillsdale, and Bielawa and Stoner each chipped in two-run singles as well. Emma Johnson and Stepanenko each finished with two hits as well for Hillsdale, and Sam Catron chipped in a double.
The Chargers were supposed to play a fifth game on Sunday, a rematch with host Glenville St., but the game was rained out.
Now 6-7 overall after a strong weekend, Hillsdale is taking the next two weeks off to regroup and refine its skills before hitting the road on a trip to the south over spring break. The Chargers start in North Carolina with a doubleheader against Queens on March 12, and will work their way down the coast to Florida for a doubleheader with Flagler to conclude the trip on March 17.
Photo by Camryn Olson