Schedule
Hillsdale College (4-4) vs Minnesota St.-Moorhead (5-6) | 7 p.m. ET Friday, Feb. 21 | The Dome at the Parkway Bank Sports Complex – Des Plaines, IL
Hillsdale College (4-4) vs Minnesota-Duluth (6-2) | 9 p.m. ET Friday, Feb. 21 | The Dome at the Parkway Bank Sports Complex – Des Plaines, IL
Hillsdale College (4-4) vs Bemidji St. (2-2) | 12 p.m. ET Saturday, Feb. 22 | The Dome at the Parkway Bank Sports Complex – Des Plaines, IL
Hillsdale College (4-4) vs Roosevelt (2-2) | 9 a.m. ET Sunday, Feb. 23 | The Dome at the Parkway Bank Sports Complex – Des Plaines, IL
Hillsdale College (4-4) vs Truman St. (7-6) | 11 a.m. ET Sunday, Feb. 23 | The Dome at the Parkway Bank Sports Complex – Des Plaines, IL
 
Links
Live stats | Hillsdale Roster | MSU-Moorhead Roster | Duluth Roster | Bemidji St. Roster | Roosevelt Roster | Truman St. Roster
 
Outlook
After a successful Hawai'i trip to kick off the season and a week off, the Hillsdale College softball team is back in action this weekend with a trip to The Dome at the Parkway Bank Sports Complex in the Chicagoland area for five games in the annual Rosemont Dome Invite.

The weather-controlled dome allows the Chargers to get five guaranteed games in against quality competition in February, regardless of weather, and it'll be another slate of quality opponents who will test Hillsdale this weekend.

Hillsdale gets rolling on Friday night with two games in the dome, starting with Minnesota St.-Moorhead. The Dragons are not a wholly unfamiliar foe for the Chargers, having played Hillsdale recently at the Dome in 2022. Moorhead had a strong 2024, going 33-19 and 19-9 in a rugged Northern Sun, and look to keep its recent success going in 2025 under new coach Vanessa Kellems. So far, the Dragons are off to a 5-6 start against a tough schedule that included two contests against nationally-ranked West Texas A&M University.

Moorhead lost some key pieces from last year's 33-win squad but still have plenty of talent, led by two-way star Avery Steffen, who's hitting .474 at the plate and is 3-2 with a 3.78 ERA in the circle. Returning All-NSIC player Annika Norman is also a dangerous hitter, while junior Lexie Wilson has flashed power with two home runs in 11 games. Sophomore Teagan Clemmons is a promising contributor at the plate and the team's second starter in the circle.

Hillsdale faces another strong Minnesota team on Friday with a contest against Minnesota-Duluth immediately following the game against Moorhead. A consistent top team in the NSIC, Duluth went 41-15 last season and is looking to reload quickly following heavy graduation losses and with a new coach in charge, Nat Wagner. A 6-2 start against quality competition so far has the Bulldogs looking like they're on the right track.

Duluth has to replace star pitcher Lauren Dixon but return their next two pitchers from 2024 and strong arms in sophomore Maddy Walsh and junior Allyssa Williams, as well as senior Allison Luoma, who's off to a strong start with a 3-0 record and the team's top ERA so far this year. At the plate, the Bulldogs are led by returning All-NSIC honoree Nicole Schmitt, who's hitting .600 with a stunning four home runs and 17 RBIs in just 25 at bats this season. Juniors Morgan McMillan and Kendal Jenkins are also off to hot starts at the plate for the Bulldogs.

Hillsdale faces a third NSIC squad on Saturday in Bemidji State in a noon contest. The Beavers had a rough season in 2024, going 13-38 and 7-21 in the Northern Sun, but seem on much firmer ground in 2025 with a 2-2 start that includes extremely competitive contests against strong opponents.

A rebuilt pitching staff has played well for Bemidji so far, with freshmen Kennedy Joachim and Payton Prissel looking solid for the Beavers early in their collegiate careers. At the plate, sophomore Jackie Larsen is hitting .500 and junior Morgan Benedict is hitting .429 to lead Bemidji offensively. Alexa Christenson has a home run as well for the Beavers, and Molly Houts is a returning All-NSIC Defensive Team member.

The Chargers play two regional games on Sunday, starting with hometown foe Roosevelt, which uses the Parkway Bank Complex as its home field. The Lakers are in their first full year of playing a NCAA DII schedule after beginning the transition from the NAIA, and went 17-22 last year, including 11-5 in their final season in the CCAA. Roosevelt is off to a 2-2 start, with two wins over NAIA foes and two 7-0 losses to Midwest Region power Lewis.

In the circle, freshman Catie Luzzi and sophomore Kailey Hancock have been the starters so far for the Lakers, with Luzzi posting a 0.81 ERA in eight and two-thirds innings. Freshman Riley Czarnecki has also seen significant action for Roosevelt in relief, appearing in all four games. At the plate, Roosevelt returns three All-Conference honorees from last season in Caitlin Williams, Brynn Dvoracek and Athena Pomele-Pen, but the Lakers' most successful hitter so far has been Brynn's younger sister Ella, who's batting .429 with a double and a home run.

Hillsdale finishes the event on Sunday with a game against Truman State. The Bulldogs have been steadily improving over the past three seasons and are looking for their first winning record since 2019. A 7-6 start in tournaments in Missouri and Arkansas make that seem like a real possibility, with some impressive victories for Truman early on.

The Bulldogs have some real pop at the plate, led by returning All-Midwest Region honoree Emily Wood, who's hitting .425 with seven extra base hits and 14 RBIs in 13 games this season. Fellow All-GLVC honoree Cassie Smith is hitting .442 as well, and Caragan Baker, Charlotte Chelich and Maddie Hickman are all looking dangerous at the plate as well for Truman. In the circle, Truman returns two veteran arms in Kaylyn Jones and Charlotte Chelich, and JuCo transfer Lydia Feiste has had an impressive debut, putting up a 0.63 ERA in 22.1 innings pitched.

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. Olaveson got off to a great start in Hawai'I, batting .444 and leading the team with eight RBIs. Taylor Lewis, Sydney Davis and Emma Vis are all hitting .340 or better for the Chargers as well coming back to the mainland and give Hillsdale an experienced and potent lineup.

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. All five pitchers saw action in Hawai'i for the Chargers, and while Russell figures to play an increased role this weekend, everyone should see some action and get a chance to make their mark.