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Hillsdale College

Hillsdale's Joni Russell stares down a batter during a doubleheader against Thomas More in April of 2024.
0
Wayne State WSU 8-10
6
Winner Hillsdale HCS 12-8
Wayne State WSU
8-10
0
Final
6
Hillsdale HCS
12-8
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Wayne State WSU 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 1
Hillsdale HCS 1 0 0 3 2 0 X 6 9 1

W: Russell, Joni (5-1) L: Hayden Batton (1-3)

8
Winner Hillsdale HILLSDAL 13-8
3
Bentley BENTLEY 4-5
Winner
Hillsdale HILLSDAL
13-8
8
Final
3
Bentley BENTLEY
4-5
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Hillsdale HILLSDAL 0 0 3 0 0 3 2 8 9 1
Bentley BENTLEY 0 0 1 0 0 2 0 3 7 3

W: Maxson, Mackenzi (4-3) L: R. Piromalli (2-4)

Game Recap: Softball |

Russell sets career shutouts record as Chargers win two in Florida

Joni Russell set another record for the Hillsdale College softball team as the Chargers ran their record over Spring Break to 5-1 with two victories on Friday in Clermont, Florida.

In a 6-0 win over Wayne State to open the day, Russell pitched the 19th complete game shutout of her career to set a new Hillsdale record, surpassing the old mark of 18 set by Sarah DeAngelo in 2001. Already Hillsdale' all-time leader in strikeouts, Russell dominated the Warriors, punching out 13 of the 27 batters she faced and surrendering just three hits and two walks in seven innings to improve to 5-1 on the season.

With Russell dealing in the circle, the Chargers got the only run they needed to get the victory in the bottom of the first inning, as a leadoff walk and stolen base by Emma Sather set up a RBI single by Emma Vis to put the Chargers up 1-0. 

The Chargers blew the game open in the bottom of the fourth. Katie Matzat started things off with a one-out double, followed by a bunt single by Emma Sather, who then stole second to give Hillsdale two runners in scoring position. Sydney Davis capitalized with a two-run single in the next at-bat, and later added a third run on a Warriors error to put Hillsdale up 4-0.

Davis tacked on two more insurance runs with a two-run single in the bottom of the fifth to cap the victory, and led Hillsdale at the plate in the win, going 2 for 4 with four RBIs as the Chargers finished with nine hits in the game.

Hillsdale's bats stayed hot in the second game, helping the Chargers take an 8-3 victory over Bentley to go undefeated on the day. After two scoreless innings, Hillsdale broke through in the top of the third, with Sather reaching scoring position to lead off the inning on a single and a stolen base, and Davis driving her home for a RBI single. Taylor Lewis tacked on a two-run single later in the inning to give Hillsdale a 3-0 edge.

Davis struck again in the top of the sixth on a huge day for the sophomore shortstop, finding green in the outfield for another two run single that helped Hillsdale take a 6-1 edge.

Bentley threatened to get back in the game in the bottom of the sixth, plating two runs and loading the bases, but junior pitcher Mackenzi Maxson worked her way out of a jam, and the Chargers responded with a two-run double by Anna Chellman in the top of the seventh inning to put the game out of reach.

Chellman led the Chargers in the victory with a single and a double, and Davis and Lewis each chipped in two hits as well. 

Maxson earned the complete game victory to improve to 4-3 on the season, striking out three, walking two and giving up just two earned runs in seven innings.

Hillsdale improves to 13-8 overall and finishes its Florida trip tomorrow with a doubleheader in Daytona Beach against host Embry-Riddle, starting at 4 p.m.

Photo by Reva Ludwig
 
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