The Hillsdale College softball team had a field day at the plate on Friday, pounding out 21 runs on 27 hits in a high-scoring sweep of Ursuline in a G-MAC opening doubleheader.

The two contests were played at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio, with Ursuline as the home team, after weather meant the games could not be played at Ursuline.

Hillsdale rolled to a 10-0 victory in six innings in the opener, behind two big offensive innings and a dominant performance in the circle by senior Joni Russell.

The Chargers jumped out to a 4-0 lead early, loading the bases for junior Anna Chellman, who hit a two-out, three run double and then scored on the next at bat on a RBI single by freshman Olivia Liguori.

That was all the offense Russell (7-2) needed, as the pitcher struck out six, walked none and gave up just one hit and two total baserunners in six innings of work to record the 20th shutout of her career.

Hillsdale put the game away in the top of the sixth, with junior Maggie Olaveson hitting a two-run double to lead things off and Liguori adding a two-run single. Senior Ashley Strick hit a RBI double as well and Chellman added a RBI single for Hillsdale as the Chargers triggered the run rule with their outburst.

Liguori went 3 for 4 for the Chargers at the plate, and Chellman, Emma Sather and Sydney Davis each chipped in two hits as well.

Hillsdale's bats stayed hot in the nightcap, building a 6-0 lead through the first two and a half innings. Ursuline made things interesting in the sixth inning, cutting the Chargers' lead to 8-5 with a three run home run, but Hillsdale responded with three runs in the top of the seventh to pull away for good in an 11-5 victory.

The Chargers hit three home runs in the nightcap, led by a pair of bombs from Olaveson, who went 3 for 3 with three RBIs in the game. Chellman added a two-run shot of her own in the top of the third, and Taylor Lewis went 4 for 5 with two doubles and three RBIs as well. 

Olivia Liguori went 2 for 3 with two RBIs in the second game for Hillsdale, Davis chipped in two hits, and Emma Vis and Strick each added a double as well for the Chargers, who finished with 15 hits in the victory.

Anistyn Foster (2-0) earned the win in the circle for the Chargers, pitching five and two-thirds innings with five strikeouts and no walks. Mackenzi Maxson recorded her first save of the season as well, pitching the final inning and a third and holding Ursuline scoreless with just one hit in that time. 

Hillsdale is now 16-11 overall, 2-0 in G-MAC play. The Chargers were originally scheduled to play at Lake Erie on Sunday, but that doubleheader has been postponed to a later date due to weather. That means Hillsdale returns home and next hosts a red-hot Tiffin team that's emerged as a G-MAC title contender early on with an 18-8 record and a sweep of Findlay today. That doubleheader will take place on Saturday, March 29 at 1 p.m. at Johnny Williams Field.

Photo by Reva Ludwig