The Hillsdale College softball team's offense got off to a hot start on Friday as the Chargers split two contests on their first day at the Lewis Dome Invite in Des Plaines, Illinois.

Hillsdale pounded out 26 hits, including 11 extra-base knocks, as the Chargers came up just short in a 4-3 loss to Bemidji St. to open the day, before rallying to beat Quincy 10-5 in the nightcap.

The Chargers built an early lead in both games. Against the Beavers, Hillsdale turned a leadoff double by Taylor Lewis to start the game in the top of the first inning into a run, then built a 3-0 lead in the fourth inning on a two run home run by sophomore Nathalie Hagle.

Hillsdale, however, missed chances with runners in scoring position to add to their lead in five of the first six innings, and Bemidji rallied with two runs in the sixth to cut the deficit to one run, and then walked off the game to defeat the Chargers with two runs in the seventh. Hillsdale finished with 10 hits but also stranded 10 runners.

Hagle led the Chargers at the plate against the Beavers, going 3 for 4 with two RBIs and chipping in a stolen base, while Lewis was 2 for 4 with a double, Cayla Contreras was 2 for 3 and Medleigh Danchak added a double as well.

Mackenzi Maxson had a solid outing for the Chargers in the circle, going six innings with three strikeouts, a walk and two earned runs conceded and leaving the game with the lead. Grace Harris took the loss in relief for Hillsdale.

In the nightcap, Hillsdale jumped out to a 10-1 advantage on Quincy, and then held off a late charge by the Hawks to salvage a split.

The Chargers scored two runs in the first inning, including a RBI single by the still red-hot Hagle, and tacked on four more in the second inning on RBI doubles by Ronnie Craft and Taylor Lewis, and a two-run home run to right center by Maggie Olaveson.

Olaveson and Hagle each later added anothe RBI double in the top of the sixth inning, and Sydney Davis hit a RBI double as well in that frame.

Quincy scored four runs in the bottom of the sixth to threaten a comeback, but the Chargers got out of a jam with the lead intact and Grace Harris punctuated a 1-2-3 seventh inning with a strikeout to secure a complete game victory.

Harris, now 3-1, went all seven innings with three strikeouts, no walks and three earned runs conceded.

The Chargers pounded out 16 hits in the win over Quincy, including eight extra base hits. Lewis was a perfect 3 for 3 at the plate with two doubles and a stolen base, Olaveson and Davis each finished with three hits as well, and Danchak chipped in a triple.

Hillsdale is now 3-4 overall after today's action, and will be back in action in the Dome again tomorrow with two more contests. The Chargers will face Upper Iowa at 2:30 p.m. ET, 1:30 PM Central, and will finish the day against Minnesota Duluth at 7:30 PM Eastern, 6:30 PM Central.