The Hillsdale College softball team continued its week-long Hawai'i trip on Thursday with first-ever contests against two island teams, and battled to a split for the third straight gameday.

Hillsdale fell to Hawai'i-Hilo 6-2 in the first contest of the day before winning a wild shootout, 14-11, over Chaminade in the nightcap.

The Chargers' victory over the Silver Swords was Hillsdale's highest-scoring contest since an 18-7 win over Malone during the 2022 season, and was a back-and-forth contest with four lead changes before the Chargers put the game away late. Trailing 9-7 in the top of the fifth inning, Hillsdale pulled ahead for good with four runs on four hits. After Hillsdale loaded the bases on two walks and a Sydney Davis single to start the inning, Emma Vis tied the game with a two-run single up the middle, and Hillsdale tacked on two more runs with RBI singles by Anna Chellman and Medleigh Danchak.

Hillsdale added three crucial insurance runs with two outs in the top of the seventh on RBI singles by Hannah Hoverman and Vis and a bases-loaded walk by Taylor Lewis, runs that proved crucial to hold off a late charge by Chaminade in the bottom of the seventh and preserve a 14-11 victory.

The Chargers offense had a huge day in the victory, scoring 14 runs on 15 hits. Lewis was 3 for 3 at the plate with three RBIs to lead the way for Hillsdale, Vis was 3 for 5 with four RBIs, and Davis was 3 for 5 with a double as well. Danchak went 2 for 4 at the plate with a double and four RBIs for the Chargers, and Maggie Olaveson added a double and drew four walks as well.

Mackenzie Maxson (2-1) was awarded the win for Hillsdale, pitching three and a third innings as the starter and returning to throw a scoreless fifth. Joni Russell (S, 1) pitched the final two innings to record a save for the Chargers, striking out three and walking two, and Grace Harris also pitched in relief for Hillsdale.

In the opener, Hillsdale battled with Hawai'i-Hilo but couldn't overcome a four-run first inning by the Vulcans where Hilo took advantage of three walks and two wild pitches to generate offense on just two hits.

The Chargers actually took the lead first in the top of the first as Sydney Davis scored on a first and third play, and cut Hilo's lead to 4-2 in the top of the second when Emili Blackie singled down the left field line to score Emma Vis after Vis had reached on a double.

Hillsdale's offense was unable to build from there, however, and the Vulcans pulled away with two insurance runs in the bottom of the fifth. 

Vis was 2 for 3 with a double to lead the Chargers at the plate, and Maggie Olaveson went 2 for 3 as well.

Gracelynn Kelly (1-2) took the loss for Hillsdale, and Grace Harris pitched six innings of relief, striking out one for the Chargers. Anistyn Foster also made a relief appearance for the Chargers in the contest.

Hillsdale is now 3-3 overall and finishes its Hawai'i trip today with a rematch against Nebraska Kearney at 4 p.m. ET, before playing Hawai'i Pacific at 8 p.m. ET. Hillsdale lost a tight 5-4 game to the Lopers on Tuesday and will be looking to even the score in the first contest on Friday.

Photo by Spencer Honda, Hilo Athletics