Despite giving up just three hits and committing no errors, the Hillsdale College softball team saw its G-MAC Tournament run come to an end on Saturday in a 3-0 loss to Ohio Dominican.
Facing elimination, Hillsdale pitcher Joni Russell retired the first 15 batters she faced in five scoreless innings, but the Panthers were able to break through in the sixth inning, recording two of their three hits in the game, stealing two bases and plating all three of their runs to pull ahead for good.
The Chargers also had three hits and drew four walks, but were unable to string them together to generate offense. Hailey Holtman was 2 for 3 at the plate to lead the Chargers but never got past second base in the contest.
Hillsdale came closest to rallying in the bottom of the sixth inning, taking advantage of a single by Elaine Townley and a walk to get runners to second and third with two outs and creating an opportunity to cut into ODU's lead, but the Chargers couldn't find the timely hit it needed to get runners across.
Russell pitched a strong game in the loss, going all seven innings with eight strikeouts, just one walk and three hits conceded.
Hillsdale's fate is now in the hands of the NCAA DII Tournament selection committee, which will announce Midwest Regional qualifiers at 10 a.m. on Monday. If the Chargers (31-20) don't hear their name called on Monday, it will still be a historic season for Hillsdale, which won its first regular season conference title in 29 years and won 30-plus games for just the sixth time in the program's 45-year history.
Photo by Isabella Sheehan