There aren't many firsts left for senior Joni Russell in a storied four-year career with Hillsdale College softball.

But Wednesday was a special one for the Chargers ace.

On the road against Lake Erie, Russell got the no-hitter that had been eluding her for her entire career in an 8-0 victory over the Storm in the first game, as Hillsdale swept the doubleheader with two shutouts to improve to 7-3 in G-MAC play.

Russell pitched all six innings for the Chargers, striking out nine of the 20 batters she faced without giving up a hit. The senior allowed just two baserunners on walks, both in the first inning, before settling in and cruising in a dominant performance. 

The no-hitter is Hillsdale's first since Erin Kapteyn's no-hitter against Queens (NY) on March 11, 2023, and just the second by a Chargers softball player in the last decade. It ends a long wait for Russell, who had pitched seven previous one-hitters in her career, including taking a perfect game to the final batter before giving up a hit against Lake Erie last season. It's also Russell's 23rd career shutout, tying her for the G-MAC record set by Haley Fagan of Trevecca in 2016.

With Russell dominating on the mound, Hillsdale got all the runs it needed to win in the top of the first inning, plating three on a RBI double by Taylor Lewis, a wild pitch that scored Lewis, and a RBI single by Emma Vis. The Chargers added two insurance runs in the third on a two-run double by Sydney Davis; Medleigh Danchak tacked on two more on a two-run single in the top of the fifth, and Hannah Hoverman triggrered the run rule with a RBI double in the top of the sixth.

Lewis, Hoverman and Vis each finished with two hits, including a double, to lead the Chargers at the plate.

Hillsdale's offense exploded in the nightcap while the Chargers pitching and defense continued to hold Lake Erie in check as Hillsdale took an 18-0 victory to complete the sweep. The Chargers pounded out 20 hits and put the game away with an 11-run fourth inning that turned a 3-0 contest into a run-rule victory.

Four Hillsdale players finished with three hits in the nightcap win, as Lewis finished 3 for 4 with a double, a triple, and five RBIs, and Maggie Olaveson went 3 for 5 with two doubles and three RBIs as well. Emma Sather and Olivia Liguori each chipped in three hits as well for the Chargers, Hannah Hoverman and Sydney Davis each added two hits and two RBIs, and Anna Chellman finished with a double and three RBIs as well.

Anistyn Foster and Mackenzi Maxson teamed up for the shutout victory for the Chargers, with Foster pitching four innings while conceding just two hits to earn the victory (3-2) and Maxson pitching a scoreless final inning as well.

Hillsdale improves to 21-14 with the victories, which were also coach Kyle Gross' 200th career collegiate head coaching victories. The Chargers are currently in fifth place in the G-MAC standings, but it's a tight race with only two losses separating Hillsdale from the top at this point. The Chargers will look to build on this Wednesday's wins during a weekend trip to Kentucky, with a doubleheader against Thomas More next on Saturday at 1 p.m. next for Hillsdale.

Photo by Reva Ludwig