The final home doubleheader of the season for the Hillsdale College softball team on Tuesday was a tale of two very different games.

The Chargers shut out Malone in the opener in a 3-0 victory that saw Hillsdale control the game from start to finish, but couldn't hold the Pioneers down in the nightcap as Malone exploded for 13 runs in a 13-3 victory to force a split.

Hillsdale's rode another strong performance from ace Joni Russell to victory in the first game, as Russell threw a three-hit complete game shutout to extend her streak of not giving up a run to 17 straight innings. Russell struck out nine and walked two in the victory, calmly working through a bases-loaded jam with one out in the top of the sixth without giving up a run as Malone threatened to try and tie the game. In the process of getting her 17th win of the season, Russell also broke Hillsdale's career innings pitched record set by Dana Weidinger at 593.2 in 2021. Russell now has 600.2 innings pitched in her career, adding to the program's career win, strikeout, and shutout records she already possesses. 

Second baseman Taylor Lewis made an excellent throw to home on a fielder's choice to save a run in the sixth, and Hillsdale also turned a game-ending double play with a runner at third in the top of the seventh to preserve the shutout, from third baseman Anna Chellman to first baseman Emma Vis to catcher Hannah Hoverman for a 5-3-2 double play. 

The game started as a pitcher's duel between Russell and Malone ace Mia Rose, who matched Russell through three scoreless innings. Hillsdale adjusted to Rose and seized control with three consecutive hits in the fourth inning with two outs, as Maggie Olaveson hit a single to left field, scored on a double to left field by Hannah Hoverman, and then Hoverman scored on a single to centerfield by Anna Chellman. Hillsdale tagged on an insurance run on a solo home run to left field by Emma Vis in the bottom of the fifth.

Olaveson and Hoverman each went 2 for 3 at the plate to lead the Chargers in the victory.

In the nightcap, a costly error in the top of the first inning led to a three-run home run that gave Malone an early lead, but Hillsdale battled back to tie the game at three runs apiece with two runs in the second inning and one in the fourth.

Malone, however, exploded offensively with six runs, including a grand slam, in the fifth and four more in the sixth to put the game away.

Sydney Davis went 2 for 3 at the plate with a RBI single in the second inning, and Olivia Liguori hit two doubles, including a RBI double in the second inning as well, to lead the Chargers offensively.

Mackenzi Maxson (5-7) took the loss for Hillsdale, pitching four and a third innings, and Anistyn Foster and Grace Harris also pitched in relief for the Chargers.

Hillsdale is now 29-15 overall, 15-5 in the G-MAC, and will look to secure a top four finish in the conference ahead of next week's G-MAC Tournament with two final road doubleheaders this weekend, starting with a trip to Cedarville on Saturday.

Photo by Kenneth Gaudet