There's no doubt the Hillsdale College softball team is moving in the right direction as its time in The Spring Games in Winter Haven, Florida drew to a close on Friday night.
The Chargers used power hitting and solid pitching to overwhelm LeMoyne (12-4) and Shepherd (6-4) on Friday to finish 6-0 in the event that brings northern teams together for neutral site games in Florida, continuing a huge turnaround from Hillsdale's 4-14 record at the start of the competition.
Hillsdale hit multiple home runs in both games, putting together one of its best offensive performances of the season against LeMoyne. Senior Kasidy Carson helped score the Chargers' first two runs, hitting a bunt single in the bottom of the third inning that led to freshman Ashley Strick scoring from second on a throwing error, then hit another bunt in the bottom of the fourth, this time sacrificing herself to score senior Madison Rathbun.
The Chargers tacked on two more runs in the fourth on RBI doubles from senior Natalie Stepanenko and freshman Olivia Latimer. LeMoyne answered back with four runs in the top of the fifth to tie the game, but the Chargers got an immediate response in the bottom of the inning as senior Madison Stoner hit a solo home run to lead off the inning and sophomore Hailey Holtman added a two-run shot two batters later to give Hillsdale a 7-4 edge.
Hillsdale blew the game open in the bottom of the sixth, plating five runs to trigger the mercy rule and walk off the victory. Strick hit a two-run double and Stepanenko added a RBI single as well for the Chargers. All told, five batters finished with multiple hits as the Chargers plated a season-high 12 runs in the victory.
Freshman Dani Deaton got the start for Hillsdale, and freshman Emma Vis pitched four innings of relief, giving up five hits and two earned runs. Senior Camryn Olson finished the game for her first win of the season, striking out one and giving up just one hit and one earned run in an inning and a third of relief.
In the nightcap against Shepherd, Hillsdale's offense continued to rake. Both Holtman and Stoner each hit another home run -- Holtman a solo shot in the top of the second, and Stoner, a two-run home run in the top of the third, to help the Chargers build a 5-0 lead over the Rams through two and a half innings. After Shepherd got a run back in the bottom of the third, sophomore Kay Suganuma hit a RBI single to give Hillsdale an insurance run in the top of the fifth, and extend the lead to 6-1.
The Rams made a late push, scoring three runs in the final three innings and loading the bases with just one out and trailing 6-4 in the bottom of the seventh. But relief pitcher Joni Russell earned her first career save, inducing a line-out for the second out and striking out the batter looking to end the game.
Erin Kapteyn earned her fourth win of the season for Hillsdale as the starter, going six and one-thirds innings with five strikeouts and three earned runs in the victory. Rathbun went 2 for 3 at the plate in a solid showing for the Chargers offensively, to pair with the home runs by Holtman and Stoner.
Hillsdale (10-14) is wrapping up its Florida trip this afternoon with a doubleheader against Embry-Riddle. The Chargers will enter G-MAC play next week, starting with their home opener against Lake Erie on Friday, March 25.
Photo by Morgan Hoverman