Schedule
Hillsdale College (6-7) vs Minnesota-Duluth (15-5) | 2 p.m. ET Sunday, March 9 | Clermont, FL – Legends Way
Hillsdale College (6-7) vs Indiana (PA) (3-1) | 4:15 p.m. ET Sunday, March 9 | Clermont, FL – Legends Way
Hillsdale College (6-7) vs #15 UIndy (8-4) | 9 a.m. ET Monday, March 10 | Clermont, FL – Legends Way
Hillsdale College (6-7) vs Slippery Rock (2-2) | 11:15 a.m. ET Monday, March 10 | Clermont, FL – Legends Way
Hillsdale College (6-7) at Florida Southern (4-17) | 5 p.m. ET Wednesday, March 12 | Chris Bellotto Field -- Lakeland, FL
Hillsdale College (6-7) at Florida Southern (4-17) | 7 p.m. ET Wednesday, March 12 | Chris Bellotto Field -- Lakeland, FL
Hillsdale College (6-7) vs Wayne St. (3-6) | 9 a.m. ET Friday, March 14 | Clermont, FL – Legends Way
Hillsdale College (6-7) vs Bentley (0-0) | 2 p.m. ET Friday, March 14 | Clermont, FL – Legends Way
Hillsdale College (6-7) at Embry Riddle (11-7) | 4 p.m. ET Saturday, March 15 | Radiology Associates Field – Daytona Beach, FL
Hillsdale College (6-7) at Embry Riddle (11-7) | 6 p.m. ET Saturday, March 15 | Radiology Associates Field – Daytona Beach, FL
 
Links
Live stats | Hillsdale Roster | Duluth Roster | IUP Roster | UIndy Roster | Slippery Rock Roster | Florida Southern Roster | Wayne St. Roster | Bentley Roster | Embry-Riddle Roster
 
Outlook
The Hillsdale College softball team makes its annual trip to Florida for spring break this coming week, with 10 games on tap in the Sunshine State.

Historically speaking, the Florida trip has been a turning point in recent years for the Chargers, who seem to get on a roll down south and start a run of success that lasts when the team heads back north. Hillsdale will be looking to catch fire once again against a slate of tough opponents.

Hillsdale kicks off the weekend on Sunday in Clermont, Florida against Minnesota-Duluth, who took a 7-4 over the Chargers in the Rosemont Dome two weeks ago. A consistent top team in the NSIC, Duluth went 41-15 last season and is looking to reload quickly following heavy graduation losses and with a new coach in charge, Nat Wagner. They're off to an impressive 15-5 start, and looking very tough again.

Duluth has to replace star pitcher Lauren Dixon but return their next two pitchers from 2024 and strong arms in sophomore Maddy Walsh and junior Allyssa Williams, as well as senior Allison Luoma. Hillsdale saw Williams, who has seven wins and the team's top ERA at 2.51, in the Dome. At the plate, the Bulldogs are led by returning All-NSIC honoree Nicole Schmitt, who's hitting .484 with seven home runs and 35 RBIs so far this season. Juniors Ava Johnson, Morgan McMillan and Kendal Jenkins are also off to hot starts at the plate for the Bulldogs.

The Chargers play again on Sunday against Indiana (PA), who have just four games played heading to Florida but are 3-1 and were picked to finish second in the PSAC West after going 29-25 last season. IUP returns almost everyone from last year's team, including all three starting pitchers, headlined by ace and All-PSAC honoree Kendall Young. The Crimson Hawks also return three dynamic infield players in All-Region shortstop Madison Pikula, All-Region third baseman Delaney Patella and All-PSAC first baseman Jordan Sylvia, as well as All-PSAC outfielder Paige Truax. Sophomore Brianna Pusateri also is hitting .571 at the plate to start the season.

Play continues on Monday in Clermont with a big in-region game for the Chargers against nationally-ranked UIndy. The Greyhounds are reloading after significant graduation losses from a 60-win, Midwest Region winning team in 2024, but are still one of the top teams in the region at 8-4. No. 2 pitcher in 2024, Jayden Casebolt, has moved into the top spot this season and has a 1.40 ERA and a 5-1 record, and freshman Cheyenne Eads has been solid with a 1.97 ERA and two shutouts as well. The lone holdover from last year at the plate, Jocelyn Calvin, is off to a strong start, while sophomore Cara Cooper and freshmen Eads and Brooklyn Willis have emerged as key contributors at bat as well for UIndy.

Hillsdale finishes up on Monday with a game against Slippery Rock, who was solid last year at 18-13 in PSAC West play and are 2-2 to start 2025. The Rock is led by senior ace Alexsa Hurd, an All-Region pitcher who had a memorable duel with Hillsdale's Erin Kapteyn in a 1-0 Charger victory in Florida last season. Junior Paige Gresgott is Slippery Rock's No. 2 starter, while senior catcher Emma Kennedy and senior outfielder Julia Montie lead the Rock at the plate, both hitting over .300 in four games.

On Wednesday, the Chargers battle some local competition, traveling to Lakeland, Florida for two contests against Florida Southern. A traditional powerhouse and usually a strong team, the Mocs are in the middle of a down year with a 4-17 record, but still dangerous. On the mound, freshman Des Aitken is the top-line starter for Florida Southern with a 4.30 ERA, with Kayla Hickey, Amanda Lieberman and Ella Torres also earning starts so far this season. At the plate, senior Shelbie Valencia and sophomore Kate Mikle are the top hitters for the Mocs in terms of both average and power.

Hillsdale returns to Clermont and the Spring Games on Friday, starting with a contest against regional foe Wayne State in the morning. The Warriors are 3-6 so far against a tough slate and look improved from last season. Junior Grace Fisher, a Notre Dame College transfer, has been the Warriors' most effective starter with a 2.49 ERA, while returner Sydney Long has manned the second spot in the rotation. Freshman Katelyn DeWitt has been a breakout star at the plate for Wayne St. with 13 RBIs in nine games, while senior stalwart Rylie Josephson and fellow star freshman Elly Koopman are also off to a hot start for a Warriors squad that's been able to put up runs so far.

The Chargers finish Friday with a contest against east coast squad Bentley. The Falcons are opening their season in Florida and have yet to play a game, but went 20-23 in 2024. On the mound, Bentley will lean on returning All-Conference pitcher Riley Piromalli, and will look to break in a new No. 2 with holdover Breelin McDougal back after serving as a reliever last year. At the plate, senior outfielder Jordan Krause and sophomore first baseman Hailey Feiler were both All-Conference players last year as well and will be building blocks in the batting order.

The Chargers finish off their spring break trip with a doubleheader against always-tough Embry-Riddle in Daytona Beach, Florida. A 33-19 squad last season, the Eagles are 11-7 in 2025 with a split against then-sixth-ranked Auburn Montgomery. ERAU returns a strong offense headlined by three All-Sunshine State Conference honorees in Raissa Bianco, Emma Wood and Delaney Morgan, and nine regulars currently batting above .300. In the circle, the Eagles return starting pitchers Shelby Morse and Mallory Kinahan, while transfer Ava Domenici also is playing well.

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 great potential in the lineup headlined by junior Maggie Olaveson, an All-Midwest Region player who hit for both average and power to lead the team as a sophomore. Olaveson got off to a great start in Hawai'I, batting .444 and leading the team with eight RBIs on that trip. Along with Olaveson, Sydney Davis, Taylor Lewis and Emma Vis are all hitting above .340, giving the Chargers a strong batting order to start.

In the circle, Joni Russell has been an All-American level starter and a record-setter for Hillsdale for three seasons and looks to cap her career with another impressive campaign in 2025. She's off to a strong start, earning G-MAC Pitcher of the Week honors for her play in Chicago. Hillsdale will have a void to fill at the other starting position with the graduation of another program great, Erin Kapteyn, but has a variety of options who've already shown for the Chargers in returner Mackenzi Maxson and newcomers Anistyn Foster, Gracelynn Kelly and Grace Harris who all should have a role to play this year.