Sophomore Emma Sather had two hits this weekend. Courtesy | Hillsdale College Athletic Department
Junior pitcher Joni Russell broke the Great Midwest Athletic Conference record for career strikeouts as the softball team won three of four games last weekend against two conference rivals, moving to 14-4 in G-MAC play.
The Chargers opened the weekend against the Ashland University Eagles on Saturday, losing the first game 8-7 in 10 innings and winning the second 5-2. On Sunday, the Chargers swept the Ohio Dominican University Panthers 6-0 and 5-0.
Over the past three years, Russell has accumulated 627 strikeouts, beating out former Trevecca Nazarene Trojan Haley Fagan’s record of 616 strikeouts.
“I had no idea this was even in the books for me,” Russell said. “I just keep playing the game I love.”
The Chargers are currently ranked second in the G-MAC behind the Trevecca Nazarene University Trojans.
According to Russell, the Chargers’ first game against the Eagles was difficult. The earlier loss increased the pressure in the second game.
“The second game was a real battle,” Russell said. “We knew it was going to be a tough game after the first game, and we would have to push through and give it all we had in every inning. We definitely played with more fire in the second game.”
Head Coach Kyle Gross said Sunday was a first in the scorebooks during his five years with the Chargers.
“In my time here, this is the first time we’ve swept Ohio Dominican in a series,” Gross said. “To do it and shut out both games was a pretty amazing feeling.”
According to Gross, the team was unified during both games, moving well in both offense and defense.
“We pitched really well in both games which led to two shutouts against a team like that,” Gross said. “We also executed small-ball, had timely hits, and made no errors. We played 14 innings of softball with no errors.”
This weekend, the Chargers will play four home games at Johnny Williams Field. On Saturday, they will play the Lake Erie College Storm at 1 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. Sunday is Senior Day for the Chargers, and they will play the Ursuline College Arrows at 1 p.m. and 3:30 p.m.
The Chargers will then head to Akron Ohio to compete in the G-MAC tournament at Firestone Stadium.
Graduating seniors are middle infielder Hailey Holtman, pitcher Erin Kapteyn, catcher McKenna Eichholz, first and third baseman Grace Wallner, and middle infielder Kay Suganuma.
Holtman currently holds a career batting average of .278 and a fielding percentage of .929. Kapteyn has pitched 366.1 innings and has a career strikeout average of 4.62 per game. She also nears the end of her time at Hillsdale with a career of 40 wins and 17 losses.
Eichholz holds a career batting average of .274 and a fielding percentage of .986. Wallner currently holds a .300 batting average and a .929 fielding percentage. Suganuma has obtained a career fielding percentage of .931.
“I’ve enjoyed every minute of playing for Hillsdale,” Kapteyn said. “I’ve made a lot of great memories and many close friendships.”
With two games left after this weekend before the G-MAC tournament begins, this is an important weekend for the Chargers to stay highly ranked in their conference, according to Gross.
“This is another really big conference weekend,” Gross said. “These are games that we need to win to stay where we’re ranked, but we’re in a good spot.”
With Senior Day on Sunday, Gross said he wants to see the student body come out and support the team and seniors on this big day.
“Come out and support our seniors and put supporters on our home field,” Gross said.
