The Hillsdale College softball team got two huge road victories on Wednesday, defanging a dangerous host Tiffin team at the plate in 6-2 and 3-0 victories to remain near the top of the G-MAC standings with five doubleheaders left in the regular season.
Hillsdale got a huge first game from sophomore Maggie Olaveson to take a 6-2 victory. With Hillsdale leading 1-0 in the top of the third inning after scoring a run on a first and third play to start the game, Olaveson took advantage of a leadoff single and an error with a two-run double to extend the Chargers' advantage. Back up to bat with the bases loaded in the top of the fourth, Olaveson struck again, hitting a second double to clear the bases and give Hillsdale a comfortable 6-0 advantage. Tiffin made a late charge in the bottom of the seventh but it was too little, too late in the face of Hillsdale's lead.
The top of Hillsdale's lineup came through in a big way in the victory, as leadoff hitter Sydney Davis, No. 2 hitter Taylor Lewis and Olaveson each finished with two hits in the victory. Senior Grace Wallner added a single and a double as well for the Chargers, while pitcher Joni Russell had another strong day in the circle for Hillsdale, pitching all seven innings, striking out 12 batters and walking two to pick up her 13th win of the season.
In the nightcap, senior Erin Kapteyn was stellar in the circle for Hillsdale to throw her fifth shutout of the 2024 season, going all seven innings and allowing just six baserunners across 26 batters. Kapteyn was in command throughout the contest and, with Tiffin threatening in the bottom of the seventh, induced a game-ending double-play ground out from Davis to Wallner to seal the victory, her 10th of the season.
Hillsdale finished with just five hits in the nightcap but made them count. Once again Olaveson was the key contributor for the Chargers, hitting RBI singles in both the first and third innings to help Hillsdale stake an early lead. Up 2-0 in the top of the fourth inning, the Chargers got a meaningful insurance run thanks to a triple by Emma Vis, which put her in position to score from third on a ground out by Hailey Holtman.
Sydney Davis added a double as well for the Chargers, who improved to 25-11 overall, 11-3 in the G-MAC with the victory. Hillsdale next travels to Ashland on Saturday for another tough doubleheader against an Eagles team that's looking to make the G-MAC Tournament for the second-straight season. Then, on Sunday, the Chargers have a huge conference doubleheader at Ohio Dominican, the team right on the heels of Hillsdale for second place in the G-MAC standings currently.
Photo by Reva Ludwig