The Hillsdale College softball team saw its six-game win streak stopped in its final doubleheader in Florida on Saturday, falling twice to host Embry-Riddle.
The Chargers struggled to crack an air-tight Eagles defense, finishing with just six hits and zero runs in the doubleheader in 10-0 and 2-0 losses.
Hillsdale looked ready to play a low-scoring game early on in the first game of Saturday's doubleheader, holding Embry-Riddle scoreless for the first two innings, but the game got away from the Chargers in the bottom of the third, as the Eagles scored seven runs on five hits. Another three runs in the bottom of the fourth inning ended the game in five innings.
Olivia Latimer and Kasidy Carson each finished with a hit in the contest to lead Hillsdale, which got just six runners on base in the loss. Senior Camryn Olson took the loss, striking out two and walking one in two and two-thirds innings of relief, and freshman Emma Vis struck out one and walked one in an inning and a third of relief.
In the second game, freshman pitcher Joni Russell locked down the Eagles for Hillsdale, giving up just two runs and only one earned in a complete game performance. But those two runs -- one scored on an error in the bottom of the first, and one scored on a RBI single in the sixth -- were all Embry-Riddle needed in a 2-0 victory.
Although Hillsdale finished with just four hits, the Chargers got runners in scoring position in each of the final four innings, but couldn't find the timely play to get them across home plate. Madison Rathbun was 1 for 2 with a stolen base to lead the Chargers offensively, and Latimer, Natalie Stepanenko and Hannah Hoverman each chipped in a single as well.
Russell finished with five strikeouts and no walks in an excellent effort, even though it didn't result in a win.
Now 10-16 overall, Hillsdale still leaves Florida in a much better place than it was in when it arrived. The Chargers will look to build off a solid week in the Sunshine State as conference play kicks off next weekend, beginning with a home doubleheader on Friday against Lake Erie.
Photo by Morgan Hoverman