The Charger softball team will play against MSU on Oct 13. Courtesy | Hillsdale College Athletic Department

The Hillsdale softball team played two doubleheaders this weekend, finishing with a 2-1-1 weekend record. 

The Chargers played the Lawrence Technological University Blue Devils Oct. 1, dominating with a final score of 11-3, and they beat the Concordia University Cardinals, winning 9-3. They  also played a doubleheader against the Madonna University Crusaders Sept. 30, tying the first game 2-2 and losing the second 5-1. 

The four games were away, with Madonna’s games held at their stadium and the other two games hosted by Concordia.

All three universities are part of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics, with Madonna being highly competitive in NAIA competition. 

Head coach Kyle Gross said he thinks the weekend as a whole went well, and he thinks the team stepped it up slightly on Sunday. 

“Madonna was probably a little stronger than the other two squads, but we also played better on Sunday and that was the difference in scores,” Gross said. 

Gross said he believes this fall season is helping the Chargers gain experience together and learn to move as a team. 

“Every year it’s figuring things out,” Gross said. “You’re trying to get into that mindset of competing.”

Freshman catcher Emili Blackie hit two home runs this weekend. She said she thinks the first game’s score was partially due to nerves. According to Blackie, starting the game at a fast pace is what set the Chargers apart in the Concordia game.

“I think against Madonna we were just a little bit nervous,” Blackie said. “With Concordia, we just got on top of them really fast, then it was easy afterward.”

Senior pitcher Erin Kapteyn said she credits the difference in scores on Saturday and Sunday to differences in pitching strength between Madonna, Concordia, and Lawrence Tech. 

“I think Madonna had a little bit better pitching,” Kapteyn said. “But I think their hitting was probably about evenly matched throughout the whole weekend.”

The Chargers are ready to use their experience when they play against the Michigan State University Spartans in Lansing Oct. 13 in Lansing Oct. 13. Gross believes the results of the weekend will prepare the Chargers to face Michigan State on a competitive level. 

“Hopefully we go in there with all kinds of fight and give them a good competition,” Gross said. “One of our high points of the fall is to play a Big Ten team and compete with them.”

According to Kapteyn, the Chargers are ready and excited for the challenge of Michigan State. 

“We played them last year and we did pretty well,” Kapteyn said. “I think we’re just hoping to build and make it a more competitive game.”

Games like the upcoming one against the Spartans can add to players’ confidence, Gross said.