The Hillsdale College opened the 2025 season in an exotic locale with a pair of thrilling contests and a record-setting victory on Monday.

Playing two games in Honolulu, Hawai'i as part of the Ulili Softball Invitational, Hillsdale fell in extra innings to #22 Lewis in a 7-6 slugfest, before rallying in the nightcap for an exciting 8-7 victory over Ferris State. That victory was the 161th for seventh-year head coach Kyle Gross, surpassing Mark Huffman's total of 160 wins to become Hillsdale's winningest softball coach of all time.

That milestone achievement came courtesy of a roller-coaster victory over the Bulldogs in the nightcap in a game filled with big innings for both squads and sudden turns of fortune. Hillsdale fell behind 3-0 to Ferris State early in the top of the second inning, but quickly turned the tables on the Bulldogs with five runs in the third and fourth innings.

A sacrifice fly by shortstop Sydney Davis got Hillsdale on the board in the third inning, cutting the deficit to 3-1, and the Chargers exploded in the fourth, with four runs on four hits. Catcher Medleigh Danchak and Emma Vis hit back-to-back RBI doubles to tie the game at 3-all, right fielder Ashley Strick hit a RBI single to pull the Chargers ahead and left fielder Maggie Olaveson drew a bases-loaded walk to tack on another run.

Hillsdale's first lead of the game proved short-lived, as Ferris State answered back with four runs of their own in the top of the fifth to take a 7-5 edge. With time running out in the bottom of the sixth, the Chargers strung together the runs they needed to pull ahead, loading the bases with two singles and a walk and drawing another bases-loaded walk with two outs to cut Ferris State's lead to 7-6.

That brought junior Taylor Lewis to the plate, and Hillsdale's second baseman delivered a massive clutch hit, singling to right field to score the tying and go-ahead runs. 

With an 8-7 lead, pitcher Mackenzi Maxson locked in to get the win in relief, striking out the first batter she faced and allowing just one baserunner in a scoreless final inning.

Lewis' go-ahead hit was part of a huge contest for the junior, as she went 3 for 4 to lead the Chargers offensively on the day. Strick added two hits and Anna Chellman chipped in a double as well for Hillsdale.

Maxson pitched two and two thirds innings of scoreless relief to earn the victory for Hillsdale, while freshman Grace Harris pitched four and a third innings in her first collegiate start as well.

The comeback victory was a nice finish to a day that included another thriller, but one that ended in heartbreak. In their season opener against Lewis earlier in the day, Hillsdale fell behind #22 Lewis 5-1 entering the final inning, but rallied with four runs to force extra innings.

Hillsdale was able to score the international tiebreak runner in the top of the eighth to threaten the upset of the Flyers, but it wasn't to be as Lewis walked off in the bottom of the frame in a 7-6 final.

The Chargers fell behind to the Flyers 1-0 in the first inning, but tied up the game in the top of the third on a Maggie Olaveson double. Lewis seized control of the contest with two runs in the bottom of the fourth, and looked to put the game out of reach with two more runs in the sixth inning. 

Hillsdale, however, had other ideas. Down to their three outs, the Chargers loaded the bases thanks in part to singles by Sydney Davis and Ashley Strick. Taylor Lewis got Hillsdale started with a sacrifice fly to cut into Lewis' lead, followed by Olaveson, who smacked a single into left field to score two more runs.

With a chance to tie, senior Hannah Hoverman delivered another clutch hit, singling to centerfield to score Olaveson and even the game at 5-all.

That rally sent the game to extras, and Hillsdale took its first lead of the game on a single to left field by freshman Olivia Liguori in the top of the eighth. The Chargers were unable to add to their lead, however, and Lewis took advantage by plating two in the bottom of the frame to walk off and prevent the upset.

Olaveson and Davis each finished with two hits to lead the Chargers offensively in the loss, as did Emma Sather, who also played a major role in loading the bases in the top of the seventh.

Gracelynn Kelly took the loss for the Chargers in her debut despite a solid relief outing that helped Hillsdale get to extra innings, striking out two, walking three and giving up just one earned run in two innings. Mackenzie Maxson got the start for the Chargers against the Flyers and went five and two thirds innings with two strikeouts and a walk.

Hillsdale (1-1) continues its play in Hawai'i tomorrow, opening with another contest against #22 Lewis at 4 p.m. ET before taking on Nebraska-Kearney at 8 p.m. in the nightcap.

Photo by Spencer Honda, Hawaii-Hilo Athletics