The Hillsdale College softball team certainly hasn't had a boring trip to Hawai'i so far.

Two days worth of contests in Honolulu have brought high drama in every outing, with all four games decided by one run and three of them in walk-off fashion, including both contests on Tuesday.

Hillsdale found itself on both ends of the spectrum in those two games, rallying from a 2-0 deficit to walk off #22 Lewis in a 3-2 victory that avenged their Monday loss, before falling to Nebraska-Kearney 5-4 in a heartbreaker in the second contest.

The Chargers opened action for the second straight day against the Flyers, and once again fell behind the nationally-ranked squad 2-0 through the top of the fourth.

Hillsdale responded in the bottom of the fourth with their first run of the day, as Maggie Olaveson led off the inning and Sydney Davis drove her in with a single. Although the Chargers got a run back, Hillsdale was still trailing Lewis in the bottom of the sixth with one out when Davis drew a walk to start a rally, and the Chargers followed that up with three straight singles, including a RBI hit by senior Ashley Strick to score Davis, that helped the Chargers tie up the game entering the final inning.

After putting the Flyers down in order in the seventh, Hillsdale had a chance to walk off the Flyers, and took advantage. Olaveson again started the rally with a single, and after Hannah Hoverman laid down a sacrifice bunt to move her into scoring position, Davis smashed a single into right field to score Olaveson and seal a 3-2 Charger victory.

Olaveson had a stellar game for the Chargers, going 4 for 4 at the plate with two runs scored, and Davis and Anna Chellman each chipped in two hits for Hillsdale, who out-hit the Flyers 10-5 in the victory.

Gracelynn Kelly (1-1) picked up her first win as a Charger in a strong relief outing, pitching three and a third innings with just one hit and no runs conceded. Freshman Anistyn Foster made her Chargers debut as a starter and went three and two thirds innings as well for the Chargers.

In the nightcap, Hillsdale overcame multiple deficits to get to the bottom of the seventh tied at four runs apiece with Nebraska-Kearney, but couldn't hold the Lopers in a tough 5-4 loss.

Hillsdale had two outs in the bottom of the seventh and looked to be close to forcing extras, but a slow grounder down the right foul line by Nebraska Kearney kicked fair at the last second, turning a foul ball into a base hit. The Lopers would waste no time taking advantage of their lucky break, smashing a triple on the next pitch that sealed the walk off win.

The Chargers trailed 1-0 for the first half of the game after a first inning run by Nebraska-Kearney, but came roaring back in the top of the fourth, taking advantage of two big Lopers errors to plate three runs. 

Nebraska Kearney fought back with three runs in the fifth and sixth innings to take a 4-3 edge, taking advantage of a Chargers error in each frame as well.

Backs to the wall, Hillsdale continued to show the fight that had fueled the victory earlier in the day, opening the top of the seventh with a leadoff walk by Ashley Strick and a well-hit single by Emma Sather to get the potential go-ahead run on base. Sydney Davis laid down a well-executed sacrifice bunt to move Strick and Sather into scoring position, and Olaveson tied the game at four-all with a hard hit groundout to second base that allowed Strick to score.

It looked like Hillsdale might pull ahead on the next at-bat with Sather on third, as Hannah Hoverman smashed a ball into left field, but a diving catch by the Lopers saved the run and proved crucial in Nebraska Kearney's walk off in the bottom of the inning.

Anna Chellman led the Chargers offensively in the loss, going 2 for 3 at the plate, while Sather chipped in two RBIs and a single as well.

Mackenzi Maxson (1-1) took the loss in relief for Hillsdale, pitching five and two-thirds innings with four strikeouts and three walks. Joni Russell made the start for the Chargers and pitched the first inning with one strikeout and no walks.

The Chargers are now 2-2 overall and will take Wednesday off before returning to action the following day with two contests against Hawai'i-Hilo at 6 p.m. ET and Chaminade at 8 p.m. ET. It will be the first ever meetings between Hillsdale and the two Hawai'i programs.

Photo by Spencer Honda, Hawai'i-Hilo Athletics