SCHEDULE
Hillsdale College (0-0) vs #22 Lewis (0-0) | 4 p.m. ET Monday, Feb. 3 | DGM Softball Complex at Sand Island – Honolulu, HI
Hillsdale College (0-0) vs Ferris St. (0-0) | 6 p.m. ET Monday, Feb. 3 | DGM Softball Complex at Sand Island – Honolulu, HI
Hillsdale College (0-0) vs #22 Lewis (0-0) | 4 p.m. ET Tuesday, Feb. 4 | DGM Softball Complex at Sand Island – Honolulu, HI
Hillsdale College (0-0) vs Nebraska-Kearney (0-0) | 8 p.m. ET Tuesday, Feb. 4 | DGM Softball Complex at Sand Island – Honolulu, HI
Hillsdale College (0-0) vs Hawaii-Hilo (0-0) | 6 p.m. ET Thursday, Feb. 6 | DGM Softball Complex at Sand Island – Honolulu, HI
Hillsdale College (0-0) vs Chaminade (0-0) | 8 p.m. ET Thursday, Feb. 6 | DGM Softball Complex at Sand Island – Honolulu, HI
Hillsdale College (0-0) vs Nebraska-Kearney (0-0) | 4 p.m. ET Friday, Feb. 7 | DGM Softball Complex at Sand Island – Honolulu, HI
Hillsdale College (0-0) vs Hawaii Pacific (0-0) | 8 p.m. ET Friday, Feb. 7 | DGM Softball Complex at Sand Island – Honolulu, HI
 
Links
Live stats | Hillsdale Roster | Lewis Roster | Ferris St. Roster | Nebraska-Kearney Roster | Hawaii-Hilo Roster | Chaminade Roster | Hawaii Pacific Roster
 
Outlook

The Hillsdale College softball team kicks off the 2025 campaign with a bang next week, as the Chargers travel to Hawai'i as a team for the first time in program history and play in eight contests against fellow travelers and local competition.

The surroundings in Hawai'i are sure to be an improvement on early February Michigan weather, but it's not all fun in the sun for Hillsdale as the Chargers must stay focused against what looks like a very challenging schedule.

The Chargers open their season and play two of their first three games against arguably the toughest team they'll face all week, Lewis. A regional foe who's also making the trip to Hawai'i, Lewis comes in ranked 22^nd in the nation after reaching a NCAA DII regional final and winning 40 games last year.

What makes Lewis so highly regarded is the return of not one but two of the region's best pitchers in 2024 All-American Delaney Garden and All-GLVC honoree Allie Wondrasek, giving Lewis one of the best one-two punches in the circle in the country. The Flyers have more holes to fill in the lineup but Garden is also an elite hitter, and Lewis also returns a strong power hitter in junior Anna Frafjord.

Hillsdale faces another regional foe in a single contest on opening day in Ferris State, also from Michigan. The Bulldogs are traditionally not a powerhouse but seem to be on the rise, posting their best finish in eight years in 2024.

A young but talented offense, headlined by sophomore infielders Alexis Kozlowski and Emma Gillard, is the primary factor in Ferris' rise, and with many pieces back the Bulldogs could take another step forward this year. To do that, however, Ferris will have to reload at the pitching spot, with JuCo transfer Ella Covill-Marter, Davenport transfer Cecelia Bell and returner Rylie Haist looking to replace the Bulldogs' top two starters.

Hillsdale's final mainland opponent in two contests, Nebraska-Kearney, hasn't had a winning season in 13 years but play in the rugged MIAA, meaning they can't be overlooked based on record.
The Lopers return both starting pitchers – junior Madeline Janssen and sophomore Daniella Morillas – from an 18-31 squad in 2024, as well as the team's leading hitter, All-MIAA shortstop Mary Chvatal. Rylyn Nelson and Eden McNally, who both hit over .300 in 2024, also return for a veteran Lopers team that could see significant improvement this season.

The first of three Hawai'i programs Hillsdale will play during the week, Hawai'i-Hilo is the highest rated of the three in the PacWest Conference preseason poll and recorded a 26-17 record in 2024, winning a game in the PacWest Tournament.

The Vulcans return all three of their starting pitchers from a strong staff – All-PacWest honoree Chloe Sales, Tehani Seto and Madison Rabe – all of whom posted a 3 or lower ERA in 2024.  Hilo also has a strong lineup anchored by 2024 All-PacWest honorees Lexie Tilton, Jayda Favela and Rayna White, all native Hawai'ians. With a ton of returning experience, the Vulcans will be a tough test.

Immediately after taking on Hawai'i-Hilo on Thursday, the Chargers will battle Chaminade in the second game of a doubleheader. The Silver Swords went 15-21 last year and are looking for their first winning season since 2013.

In the circle, Chaminade return one of two starters in junior Bailey Benson and also bring back junior Kamryn Lopez, who excelled as a reliever for the Silver Swords in 2024 with an 8-4 record in 24 appearances and just five starts. Chaminade also has a strong lineup coming back with the return of All-West Region hitters Taryn Fujioka, an infielder, and Larchelle Tuifao, a catcher.

Hillsdale concludes its Hawai'i trip with a matchup against Hawai'i Pacific on Friday. The Sharks took a step back last season with a 9-31 finish after two years near .500, and are looking to rebound in 2025.

Hawai'I Pacific returns two of three starters in the circle, welcoming back Layla Molina and Taylor Thompson, but must replace their top pitcher from 2024 who left the program. In the lineup, senior Jewel Larson returns as the team's top hitter, leading the Sharks in average, hits, doubles and RBIs in 2024, and the Sharks also return another key bat in Alexis Oshiro.

Hillsdale has high hopes for the 2025 season, looking to build off four straight years of 30 or more wins and avenge an unfortunate ending to the 2024 season that saw them miss out on the NCAA Tournament by a razor-thin margin in the final week. The Chargers have great potential in the lineup headlined by junior Maggie Olaveson, an All-Midwest Region player who hit for both average and power to lead the team as a sophomore, as well as returners like Sydney Davis, Taylor Lewis, Hannah Hoverman, Emma Vis and Emma Sather to build around.

In the circle, Joni Russell has been an All-American level starter and a record-setter for Hillsdale for three seasons and looks to cap her career with another impressive campaign in 2025. Hillsdale will have a void to fill at the other starting position with the graduation of another program great, Erin Kapteyn. Returner Mackenzi Maxson will get a chance to move into the starting rotation after solid play as a relief pitcher, and three new roster additions – Anistyn Foster, Gracelynn Kelly and Grace Harris – figure to play a role in the circle as well for Hillsdale in the season to come.