The Hillsdale College softball team hit the ball well, but couldn't convert those hits into runs in a frustrating 6-2 loss to Truman State to close out the Rosemont Dome Invite on Sunday morning.
Hillsdale finished with 12 hits in the game but left 14 baserunners stranded, including six in the first three innings as a timely hit for RBIs just never seemed to materialize when the Chargers needed it most. Despite that issue, Hillsdale still was able to take advantage of a Truman State throwing error in the top of the second inning to plate McKenna Eichholz after Eichholz hit a single and junior Ashley Strick hit a double to get Eichholz to third base.
That gave Hillsdale a 1-0 lead, but when the Chargers were unable to add more runs over the next two innings, the Bulldogs pounced, taking advantage of a Hillsdale error to plate three runs in the bottom of the fourth. Now trailing, Hillsdale got a run back in the top of the fifth when senior Grace Wallner hit a RBI single to drive in Maggie Olaveson, who had doubled earlier in the inning, but Truman State tacked on three more runs in the bottom of the fifth to pull away for good.
Eichholz led the Chargers at the plate in the loss, going 3 for 4, while Olaveson went 2 for 4 with a double and Taylor Lewis went 2 for 5 and stole two bases as well for the Chargers.
Erin Kapteyn took the loss for Hillsdale, striking out one and walking none in four and two-thirds innings of work, and Mackenzi Maxson pitched an inning and a third of scoreless relief as well.
Now 3-5, Hillsdale will look to regroup after a difficult weekend, with plenty of non-conference games ahead to continue improving before conference play. The Chargers head to Springfield, Illinois, next weekend for a pair of doubleheaders against Midwest Regional opponents Illinois-Springfield and Quincy, for their next action.
Photo by Isabella Sheehan