“Sweeping at Findlay — who’s been a really good team all year — was just a huge, huge, sweep for us,” head coach Joe Abraham said. “It guaranteed us top three in the league, and it just solidified who we’ve been all season in pulling out those two games.”
Hillsdale scored the first and only run of the opener in the fifth inning when junior outfielder Bekah Kastning drove in freshman outfielder Carly Gouge with a double. Over the course of the game, Kastning went 3-for-4 with two singles and a double.
“That was probably the most intense game we’ve played all season,” freshman second baseman Amanda Marra said. “It was so close the whole time, and both teams were getting runners on base almost every inning, so it was just a matter of who was able to push the runs across.”
Senior pitcher Sarah Grunert picked up her 12th win of the season in the opener, and senior pitcher Sarah Klopfer recorded her third save of the season. Returning to the mound the second game, Klopfer allowed no runs in the first six innings. On defense, senior outfielder Ainsley Ellison and sophomore outfielder Brittany Mahan had lunging catches against Findlay.
“We played really great defense the whole weekend,” Marra said. “We had great pitching performances by both of our pitchers.”
In the second game against Findlay, the Chargers’ offense racked up five runs in four consecutive innings, completing the sweep 5-2. Among several strong performances, senior third baseman Julia Kosco went 2-for-2, and junior first baseman Cassie Asselta hit a solo home run. Marra and Kastning also had key RBIs in the second game.
“Julia led off the third inning for us with a single, and she later came in on Sarah Grunert’s double,” Abraham said. “That gave us a lead in game two which was just huge for us because they had not been hitting Sarah Klopfer all game, so that production that we got from the bottom of the order was a big lift for us.”
Hillsdale took two losses against Grand Valley State University on Sunday, 3-0 and 7-1.
“That’s the first time we’ve been swept in a doubleheader all year,” Abraham said. “If you can go through every year only getting swept in one doubleheader, you’re going to have one great year after another.”
Kastning scored the only run against Grand Valley, drove in by Marra’s double, and sophomore utility player Kelsey Gockman had the only hit of the second game.
“They’re a really good team, and we played them on a really good day for them.” Kastning said. “We fought hard and hit the ball, we just kept hitting it to people. Sometimes that just happens — you both are good teams, but one team is better that day.”
On Tuesday, the Chargers swept Lourdes University in a nonconference doubleheader, with an 8-0 shutout in the opener and a six-inning 12-2 win in the second game.
“We did a really good job of capitalizing on their errors, and taking advantage of the walks,” Kastning said.
The Chargers are the No. 3 seed in the GLIAC tournament, which Abraham said will be marked by tough competition.
“Any of these eight teams could potentially win it, and every single game is tough,” Abraham said. “It doesn’t matter who you are because once you get past Wayne State and maybe Grand Valley, three through eight are pretty interchangeable.”
Marra said the team’s strong season performance will serve them well this weekend.
“We have confidence in our hitting and pitching and defense,” Marra said. “We’re really excited to play in the tournament. For our five seniors, we really want to give them a memorable last season.”
