Schedule
Hillsdale College (16-11, 2-0 G-MAC) vs Findlay (17-7, 4-2) | 2 p.m. ET Friday, March 28 | Hillsdale, MI – Johnny Williams Field
Hillsdale College (16-11, 2-0 G-MAC) vs Findlay (17-7, 4-2) | 4 p.m. ET Friday, March 28 | Hillsdale, MI – Johnny Williams Field
Hillsdale College (16-11, 2-0 G-MAC) vs RV Tiffin (22-8, 6-0 G-MAC) | 12 p.m. ET Saturday, March 29 | Hillsdale, MI – Johnny Williams Field
Hillsdale College (16-11, 2-0 G-MAC) vs RV Tiffin (22-8, 6-0 G-MAC) | 2 p.m. ET Saturday, March 29 | Hillsdale, MI – Johnny Williams Field
 
Links
Live stats/Video | Hillsdale Roster | Findlay Roster | Tiffin Roster | G-MAC Standings | G-MAC Stats

 
Outlook

Hillsdale bounced back from a tough doubleheader sweep at the hands of Saginaw Valley State last Wednesday with a strong performance in its G-MAC-opening doubleheader against Ursuline on Friday, sweeping the Arrows.

Now, the Chargers return home for what might end up being the most consequential weekend of the season, with doubleheaders against two of the top title contenders in the G-MAC and two squads that have appeared to separate themselves from most of the rest of the conference so far in Findlay and Tiffin.

Findlay has been the G-MAC Tournament runner-up in back-to-back seasons and looks loaded once again with a 17-7 overall record and a 4-2 mark in conference play that includes a sweep of perennial title contender Ohio Dominican. The Oilers have one of the deepest and most experienced pitching staffs in the conference headlined by past All-G-MAC pitchers Emma Jones and Alexys Antal. Findlay's best pitcher so far might be another veteran, junior Kayla Dykin, who is 7-1 with a 1.07 ERA and a .151 batting average against. Findlay's depth means the Oilers have a fourth pitcher who might be a starter for many other teams in junior Kora Navarro that Findlay can turn to in a pinch.

Findlay pairs its strong pitching staff with an offense with real pop, as the Oilers are second in the G-MAC so far with 16 home runs and have six players with multiple on the season. Antal, a skilled two-way player, and returning first-team All-G-MAC honoree Annika Bredel lead a lineup that can do real damage in a hurry. Navarro is another strong two-way player for the Oilers, with three home runs this season, while sophomore Anna Jones and Joslynne Frazier are both valuable hitters and freshman Meghan Heinsman leads Findlay with 20 RBIs. Findlay supports its pitching staff with a strong defense, as the Oilers' fielding percentage of .977 ranks second in the G-MAC so far.
 
On Saturday, Hillsdale will have its hands full with a Tiffin squad that's already swept Findlay and looks like it might be the class of the G-MAC so far this season at 22-8 overall and 6-0 in G-MAC play.
The Dragons retooled their pitching staff in the offseason and have been the strongest team in the circle in the conference so far this season. Kent State transfer Ella Esterby has stepped in and been dominant for Tiffin as the ace, with a 1.67 ERA, 77 strikeouts and five shutouts in 11 starts, and freshman Isabella O'Brien has been arguably the best second pitcher in the league with a 1.58 ERA and a perfect 7-0 record in nine starts. The Dragons also have a solid third pitcher in returner Lexi Key, whose 2.52 ERA makes her an excellent relief option if either of their starters run into trouble.

Excellent pitching has made an always-dangerous Tiffin lineup even more potent. The G-MAC's premier power team, leading the conference in both triples (12) and home runs (21), the Dragons have six lineup regulars hitting .329 or better as well as feared power hitter Maci Head, who leads the G-MAC with eight home runs. Molly Koesters and Baylee Mirgon each have four home runs as well for Tiffin, and freshman Jessica Miller has a G-MAC best 14 doubles as the Dragons have consistently punished opposing pitching this season.

Hillsdale has high hopes for the 2025 season, looking to build off four straight years of 30 or more wins and avenge an unfortunate ending to the 2024 season that saw them miss out on the NCAA Tournament by a razor-thin margin in the final week. The Chargers have been a solid offensive team so far, with seven lineup regulars hitting above .260 and five hitting above .300 so far, led by sophomore shortstop Sydney Davis, who's batting .365 with 16 RBIs. Maggie Olaveson, a returning All-Region player, had a huge power week with three home runs in four games to get rolling and leads the team in OPS with 1.035, while Anna Chellman and Taylor Lewis are both hitting above .310 and are first (19) and second (18), respectively, on the team in RBIs. The Chargers also have the ability to manufacture runs on the basepaths, as Lewis and Emma Sather are a combined 31-for-33 on stolen base attempts and are both in the top 10 all-time in Hillsdale history in career stolen bases.

In the circle, Joni Russell has been an All-American level starter and a record-setter for Hillsdale for three seasons and is off to a strong start, with a 7-2 record, a 0.90 ERA, and 77 strikeouts with three shutouts. Russell already holds Hillsdale's career strikeouts record (736), set the program's career shutouts record with 20 earlier this season, and is closing in on both the program's wins and innings pitched records. Hillsdale has four other pitchers who will contribute in Anistyn Foster, Mackenzi Maxson, Grace Harris and Gracelynn Kelly, with Foster and Maxson most likely to get the second start in both doubleheaders as the Chargers look to continue to build a staff behind Russell as the ace.

Hillsdale is 30-18 against Findlay since 2004 and has a long history with the Oilers after their shared time together in both the GLIAC and G-MAC. The Chargers have won six of the last seven against Findlay, including a road sweep of the Oilers on March 25 of last season. Tiffin leads the series with Hillsdale 22-20 since 2006 and also has an extended history of run-ins with the Chargers in both the GLIAC and G-MAC. Hillsdale will be looking for revenge after an upset loss to Tiffin in the 2024 G-MAC Tournament that broke a nine-game winning streak for the Chargers prior to that contest.