The Hillsdale College softball team took a tough loss to open Saturday's doubleheader against visiting Cedarville, but rallied for a critical victory in the nightcap to improve to 7-3 in G-MAC play on Saturday.
After being shut out in the first game, the Chargers answered an early 2-0 deficit with four runs in the bottom of the first inning in the nightcap. After a double by sophomore Taylor Lewis with one out, senior Grace Wallner got the Chargers on the board with a RBI single to right field, then, in the next at bat, Hannah Hoverman blasted a home run over the scoreboard in left field for her fourth bomb of the season, a three-run shot that gave Hillsdale a 4-2 lead it wouldn't relinquish.
Cedarville got a run back in the third inning, but the Chargers continued to pull away over the final four innings. Junior Emma Vis and Wallner each hit a RBI double to left center, Vis in the bottom of the fourth and Wallner in the bottom of the fifth, to help extend Hillsdale's lead, and freshman Sydney Davis singled to right field to drive in another run in the bottom of the sixth in an 8-3 victory. Seven of Hillsdale's eight runs came with two outs in a clutch hitting performance in the nightcap.
Davis and Wallner each finished with a single and a double to lead Hillsdale at the plate as Hillsdale scored eight runs on eight hits, leaving just three on base in an impressive offensive performance. In the circle, senior Erin Kapteyn picked up her ninth win of the season, going all seven innings and rallying after a difficult start to give up just two earned runs on 10 hits and keep a dangerous Cedarville lineup in check, while striking out one and walking two.
The win was much needed for the Chargers after a heartbreaking 2-0 loss in the first game of the day. Cedarville took a lead it would never relinquish on a solo home run by the first batter of the game, and got an insurance run across in the seventh. Otherwise, the Yellow Jackets were largely shut down by Hillsdale ace Joni Russell who struck out 13 batters, including seven straight at one point, and walked just one in a complete game performance.
Despite Russell pitching a near gem, Hillsdale couldn't muster enough offense to overcome the early lead as Cedarville rode a strong start from their ace to victory. The Chargers got a leadoff double in the bottom of the first inning from Davis, but couldn't cash her in, and also had runners at second and third in the bottom of the fifth inning but were unable to capitalize at the plate.
Wallner went 2 for 3 to lead Hillsdale, while Erin Kapteyn and Emma Sather each had a stolen base for the Chargers.
Hillsdale is now 21-11 overall, 7-3 in the G-MAC, and thanks to chaos around the rest of the league still remain in close contention for the top spot in the conference race despite the split. The Chargers host Thomas More tomorrow at 1 p.m. for a doubleheader for their next action.
Photo by Morgan Hoverman