Facing off against one of the best DII softball teams in the state of Florida, the Hillsdale College softball team tested host Rollins but ultimately fell to the Tars in both halves of a doubleheader to kick off the Chargers' annual Spring Break Florida trip on Sunday evening.
The first game was a highly anticipated matchup of two previous All-Americans in the circle, as Hillsdale's Joni Russell battled Rollins' Ashley Worrell. The matchup lived up to the hype, as both pitchers battled through a scoreless seven innings and the game went to extras, where Rollins took advantage of the runner starting on second base with a single to score the walk-off run in a tight 1-0 contest.
That hit was one of just two Russell gave up in eight innings against a dangerous Tars lineup that had been lighting up all comers in recent weeks. Russell (3-3) struck out 13 of the 24 batters she faced with just one walk and three total baserunners allowed in a masterful performance that unfortunately still ended in a loss.
With chances coming few and far between, Hillsdale was unable to capitalize on the chances they did get to seize victory. Freshman Sydney Davis singled and reached second in the top of the third inning, and a leadoff single by senior Hailey Holtman ended up creating a runner at third scoring chance in the top of the fourth. A Hannah Hoverman leadoff single in the top of the fifth also gave the Chargers a chance with runners in scoring position, and in the top of the eighth, Hillsdale had runners at second and third with two outs, but in all four cases the timely hit was elusive for the Chargers.
In the nightcap, Hillsdale jumped out to an early lead, as sophomore Maggie Olaveson blasted a solo home run with two outs in the top of the first to go up 1-0. The Chargers added another run in the second on a RBI single by sophomore Emma Sather and created a third run in the third inning on a wild pitch after a Rollins error and a single by Grace Wallner.
That gave Hillsdale a 3-0 lead, but the Chargers couldn't hold off the Tars, who rallied with four combined runs in the third and fourth innings to take the lead, then tacked on two more insurance runs in the sixth on the way to a 6-3 victory. The Chargers got a runner in scoring position in the top of the fourth, fifth and sixth innings but couldn't get them across to recapture the momentum.
Senior Erin Kapteyn (3-3) took the loss for Hillsdale in the circle, pitching five and a third innings with four strikeouts and two walks. Sophomore Mackenzi Maxson finished the game for the Chargers, recording the final two outs of the sixth inning.
Wallner went 2 for 3 at the plate to lead the Chargers offensively.
Hillsdale (6-8) will look to regroup on Tuesday, as the Chargers travel to Lakeland, Florida to face another Sunshine State Conference foe, Florida Southern, in a night doubleheader. Hillsdale split with the Mocs last season, and will look for a sweep to get back to .500 to kick off a busy stretch with eight contests in five days.