In the first conference games of the season, the Hillsdale College women’s softball team lost twice to the University of Findlay.
The games were played on a field near Findlay’s campus, because neither Findlay nor Hillsdale’s fields were clear of ice and snow.
In the first game of the double header, Hillsdale went into the top of the third inning trailing 2-0, after a run by Findlay in the bottom of both the first and second innings. After singles by junior Melissa Felkey and sophomore Danielle Garceau, freshman Bekah Kastning hit her first career home run to put Hillsdale ahead 3-2.
“We have good freshman hitters this season,” Garceau said.
Findlay tied up the game in the bottom of the same inning, and scored again in the bottom of the seventh to win the game 4-3.
Hillsdale lost the second game 9-1.
“Findlay hit our pitching hard in the second game,” head coach Joe Abraham said. “They were up 8-0 before we even knew what happened.”
Kastning said Findlay was able to get hits in the gaps, making it hard on the defense.
Abraham said Hillsdale played well defensively against Findlay, but needs to get more hits.
Hillsdale has scored three or fewer runs in nine of the 10 games it has played this season.
“When a season starts, the pitchers are typically ahead of the hitters,” Abraham said. “It takes games for the hitters to catch up.”
Abraham said Hillsdale needs to add more non-conference games early in the season so the hitters are ready when conference play begins.
“These games were not an example of who we are as a team,” Felkey said.
On Saturday and Sunday, Hillsdale is scheduled to host its first home games of the season against Tiffin University and Ohio Dominican University. Due to four inches of ice on the field, Garceau said Hillsdale must either find a neutral site for the games, or give away home games and play at Tiffin.
“It would be nice to have a turf building to practice in,” Abraham said, “but all we can do is go out and play our hardest. You can’t control the weather.”
The Chargers have been unable to have outdoor practices in Michigan this season, and Garceau said the earliest they predict to be outside for practice or games is mid-April.
”“I dont’ want to make excuses for the team, but at the same time, these girls are facing very difficult conditions,” Abraham said.
Abraham said he expects good pitching from Tiffin, the alma mater of Hillsdale’s new pitching coach, Amber Young.
“They are always solid at a minimum,” Abraham said.
He said Ohio Dominican struggled in the preseason, but has already played about 25 games, making them better than their record indicates.
Hillsdale will then play at Wayne State University on Tuesday.
“I hope we can show up this weekend and play the way we had been in Florida,” Felkey said.
