SCHEDULE:
Walsh (15-11, 3-5 G-MAC) at Hillsdale College (17-11, 5-1 G-MAC) | 3:30 p.m ET Friday, April 9 | Johnny Williams Field – Hillsdale, MI | Live Stats | Watch
Walsh (15-11, 3-5 G-MAC) at Hillsdale College (17-11, 5-1 G-MAC) | 5:30 p.m ET Friday, April 9 | Johnny Williams Field – Hillsdale, MI | Live Stats | Watch
Malone (12-5-1, 6-4 G-MAC) at Hillsdale College (17-11, 5-1 G-MAC) | 1 p.m ET Saturday, April 10 | Johnny Williams Field – Hillsdale, MI | Live Stats | Watch
Malone (12-5-1, 6-4 G-MAC) at Hillsdale College (17-11, 5-1 G-MAC) | 3 p.m ET Saturday, April 10 | Johnny Williams Field – Hillsdale, MI | Live Stats | Watch
Outlook:
The Chargers suffered their first conference loss on Tuesday, but remain in strong position after taking three of four games over the long weekend, and sit in second place in the G-MAC, a game behind unbeaten Trevecca Nazarene and two games ahead of the rest of the field.
Hillsdale hosts two challenging opponents this weekend in Walsh and Malone, and expected inclement weather has already altered the weekend's schedule, moving Sunday's contests with Walsh to Friday in an attempt to dodge the rain. With uncertain skies in the forecast all weekend, there could be additional changes, so follow @HCChargers on twitter to stay up-to-date on the most recent schedule.
Along with the doubleheaders, Hillsdale hopes to honor seniors Sam Catron, Dana Weidinger, Madison Stoner, Emma Johnson, Julia Sayles and Sarah Wojcik with a senior day celebration. That will be between games on either Saturday or Sunday, depending on what the weather does to the schedule.
The Chargers now open the weekend with Walsh. The Cavaliers were picked to finish ninth in the G-MAC in the preseason and are off to a 3-5 start, having swept Kentucky Wesleyan, split with Cedarville and been swept by Trevecca Nazarene and Findlay.
At the plate, Walsh is led by senior catcher Jessie Rock, who is batting .364 with four doubles, six home runs and 21 RBIs this season. Junior first baseman Emma Bobey (.412, 9 doubles, 17 RBIs) and sophomore shortstop Sarah Moats (.337, eight doubles, 12 RBIs) are also performing well for a solid Cavaliers offense.
On the mound, ace pitcher Sara Gockenbach, a junior, has been extremely effective for Walsh, posting a 10-3 record in 15 appearances with a 2.93 ERA and 65 strikeouts. Sophomore Emily Pratt is the Cavaliers' regular second starter, with a 3-4 record and a 5.91 ERA.
Malone enters the weekend currently sitting in fourth in the G-MAC standings after back-to-back sweeps of Findlay and Ohio Valley.
A potent lineup has helped Malone to the excellent start, as all five Pioneers with the team's highest number of plate appearances are batting .370 or better. Senior infielder Bailey Byers is hitting .473 with eight doubles, five home runs and 21 RBIs for Malone, and sophomore infielder Lexi Betz is hitting .396 with nine doubles, five home runs and a team-high 28 RBIs.
On the mound, Bailey Byers' younger sister Kelsey has been excellent as the team's ace, starting 14 of Malone's 18 contests and posting a 12-3 record, 1.63 ERA and 122 strikeouts to just five walks. Jensen Miller and Elizabeth Dyke have each made two starts apiece as well for the Pioneers.
Hillsdale is 17-11 on the year and seeks a third straight G-MAC tournament title and its first regular season crown.
With two-time G-MAC Softball Pitcher of the Week Dana Weidinger on the mound, Hillsdale has a chance in every contest, as Weidinger is 11-4 with a 1.92 ERA and 76 strikeouts to 16 walks this season. Junior Camryn Olson has won her last two starts and given up just two earned runs across both outings.
At the plate, Stoner is the defending G-MAC field player of the week and is leading the team in batting average (.423) and slugging percentage (.676) while also sitting in second in home runs (4) and RBIs (25). Junior Renee Bielawa also is playing well batting .349 with eight doubles, two home runs and a team leading 26 RBIs, and Catron is hitting .333 with a team high 31 hits and seven home runs, as well as six doubles and 23 RBIs.