The Hillsdale College softball team battled offensively but came up short in two tough losses on Saturday, falling to undefeated Northeastern State 4-2 and nationally-ranked UT-Tyler 13-7 in games played in Tyler, Texas.

Hillsdale showed resilience in the opener, battling back from a 2-0 deficit early to Northeastern State to tie up the game in the fifth inning. Paying off a leadoff double by senior third baseman Anna Chellman and a walk by junior Medleigh Danchak, senior second baseman Taylor Lewis had the big hit, singling up the middle to drive in two runs and tie the game. Those two runs on Lewis' double were the first earned runs conceded by Northeastern State pitcher Jensyn Elder in three appearances on the season. 

While Hillsdale tied up the contest, the Chargers also missed a chance to seize control, stranding runners at second and third later in the inning, and the undefeated Riverhawks made the Chargers pay, retaking the lead with a run in the sixth and adding an insurance run in the seventh. Hillsdale went down in order in the bottom of the seventh to end the game.

Chellman had two doubles and Lewis went 2 for 3 at the plate as well for Hillsdale, which had six hits but hit into two double plays that ended dangerous scoring threats in a narrow loss.

Mackenzi Maxson took the loss for Hillsdale, going five and two thirds innings and giving up three earned runs with one strikeout and four walks. Freshman Katie Jonas made her Chargers debut, pitching an inning and a third with one earned run conceded and one strikeout.

In the nightcap, host UT-Tyler got its revenge on Hillsdale for the Chargers' 4-1 victory over the Patriots on Friday, scoring 11 runs in the first three innings to jump out to a huge lead. While Hillsdale outscored UT-Tyler 4-2 in the final four frames, the Chargers couldn't overcome that big early deficit to the top-ranked team in the country.

While Hillsdale took the loss, the Chargers had a solid outing at the plate, scoring seven runs on nine hits. Maggie Olaveson was 2 for 3 with three RBIs, scoring on a solo home run and driving in runs on a RBI single and a sacrifice fly. Lewis went 2 for 3 with a RBI double and Sydney Davis was 2 for 3 with a RBI single as well for Hillsdale.

Anistyn Foster took the loss for Hillsdale, pitching an inning and two-thirds, while Grace Harris also pitched an inning of relief and Jonas finished the game for the Chargers, striking out one and walking two over three and a third innings.

Hillsdale, now 1-2 on the year, finishes up its Texas trip on Sunday with two contests. The Chargers will face Northeastern State in a rematch at 10 a.m. ET tomorrow, then close out the trip with a game against New Mexico Highlands at 12:30 ET.