The Hillsdale College softball team opened the Illinois-Springfield Invitational on Saturday with a frustrating afternoon, as the Chargers outhit the host Prairie Stars on the day and pitched well enough to win, but came up short in two narrow losses.
The Chargers had the lead in both games of the doubleheader, but a big sixth inning by UIS in game one allowed the Prairie Stars to pull away for a 6-3 win, while in the nightcap UIS broke a 3-3 tie in the bottom of the seventh with a walk-off double for a 4-3 victory.
Hillsdale went ahead in the top of the first inning in game one, as senior Madison Stoner hit a RBI single scoring Elaine Townley to get the Chargers on the board. UIS answered with a run in the bottom of the first to tie the game, then went ahead 2-1 with a RBI bunt single in the bottom of the fifth.
The Chargers answered in the sixth with a RBI single by Renee Bielawa, scoring Reagan Gensiejewski, to tie the game at 2-apiece, but UIS seized control for good in the bottom of the sixth inning, plating four runs on two hits to take a lead it wouldn't relinquish.
Hillsdale had an opportunity to get back in the game in the top of the seventh, as Madison Rathbun hit a RBI single that loaded the bases with one out, but the Chargers couldn't capitalize in the next two batters and fell 6-3.
Stoner led the Chargers at the plate, going 3 for 4, and freshman Olivia Latimer was 2 for 3 with a double as well for Hillsdale, which finished with 12 hits but stranded 10 runners in the loss. Freshman Joni Russell took the loss on the mound for Hillsdale, striking out eight and pitching well for five innings before walks caught up with her and UIS broke through in the sixth. Freshman Dani Deaton finished the game for the Chargers, striking out one and walking one.
Hillsdale came out even stronger in Game 2, jumping out to a 3-0 lead in the top of the first. Stoner drove in a run on a fielder's choice, scoring the leadoff hitter, Natalie Stepanenko, and McKenna Eichholz added a two-run single later in the inning.
But UIS battled back with two runs in the bottom of the first, and Hillsdale couldn't get the timely hitting it needed to add to its lead. UIS tied the game in the third on a RBI ground-out and walked off the Chargers in the bottom of the seventh with a double driving in the winning run.
Hillsdale had chances to extend its lead, but left six on base, including three runners in scoring position. Latimer led Hillsdale at the plate, going 2 for 3, and senior Camryn Olson took the loss, going the distance and striking out three and walking four in a quality start.
The Chargers (2-10) are on a six-game losing streak, but five of those six losses have come by three runs or less. Hillsdale will look to turn things around on Sunday when it plays a doubleheader against Quincy to wrap up the UIS Invite.