Entering Sunday's doubleheader in Georgia against Augusta, the Hillsdale College softball team had hit just three home runs in 15 games.

The Chargers more than doubled that number in the two contests against the Jaguars, blasting four home runs in the two games to pull off 5-3 and 4-3 victories and move to 8-9 on the season.

In the first contest, Hillsdale fell behind 1-0 in the bottom of the first first inning, but took the lead in the top of the second when junior Elaine Townley hit a two-run shot to put the Chargers up 2-1.

Junior Renee Bielawa added a run on a RBI double in the top of the third inning, and when Augusta tied the game in the top of the fourth inning with a two-run home run of her own, Bielawa put the Chargers up for good with a solo shot in the sixth inning. Hillsdale tacked on an insurance run in the top of the seventh when Sarah Wojcik scored on an error to secure the victory in the first game.

Townley and Bielawa each went 2 for 3 with a double and a home run to lead the Chargers at the plate, and senior Dana Weidinger picked up her seventh win of the season on the mound for Hillsdale, striking out two, walking one and giving up five hits and three earned runs in a complete game effort.

In the nightcap, Chargers and Jaguars were scoreless until senior Sam Catron broke the stalemate in the top of the sixth inning with a three-run home run. In the next inning, Hillsdale tacked on a needed insurance run when freshman Hailey Holtman hit a solo shot of her own.

The Chargers had to hold of a furious late rally by the Jaguars, who hit a two-run home run and tacked on another RBI single in the bottom of the seventh inning to cut Hillsdale's lead to 4-3. But Camryn Olson came in in relief and recorded the final out to get the save and secure the doubleheader sweep for the Chargers.

Bielawa added a double as well for the Chargers in the second game, and freshman Erin Kapteyn picked up her first collegiate win on the mound, striking out three, walking four and giving up just two hits and two earned runs in six and two-thirds innings. 

Hillsdale continues its spring break trip tomorrow with a trip to Due West, South Carolina to take on Erskine in a doubleheader at 1 p.m.

Photo by Kasidy Carson