A matchup that always seems to produce close, compelling contests through the year delivered again on Sunday, as the Hillsdale College softball team and host Ohio Dominican split a pair of tense, well-played contests.

Hillsdale rallied from multiple deficits in the first game to enter the bottom of the seventh inning tied at 4 with ODU, but the Panthers used a leadoff double to manufacture a walk-off run in a 5-4 ODU victory to kick off the doubleheader.

Maggie Olaveson hit a two-run home run in the top of the fourth inning for the Chargers to tie the game at 2-all, and after ODU pulled back ahead by two runs in the bottom of the fourth, Hillsdale manufactured a run off a two-out double by Taylor Lewis in the top of the fifth to cut ODU's lead to 4-3, then tied the game at 4-all in the seventh on another double by Lewis that scored Ronnie Craft.

Lewis' two doubles led the Chargers in the contest, while Olivia Liguori went 2 for 3 and Ronnie Craft added a single and a stolen base as well.

Mackenzi Maxson (7-6) took the loss for the Chargers, striking out one and walking two in six and a third innings of work.

Hillsdale got revenge in the nightcap, jumping out to a 3-0 lead and holding on late for a 3-1 victory to split the doubleheader.

Ronnie Craft got the Chargers on the board with a two-out, RBI single in the top of the third, and Taylor Lewis scored Craft on a RBI double in the next at bat to give Hillsdale a 2-0 lead.

Medleigh Danchak added to Hillsdale's lead in the top of the fourth, following up back-to-back two out singles by Olivia Liguori and Sydney Davis with a RBI double to put Hillsdale up 3-1. 

The Chargers held ODU almost completely in check until the bottom of the sixth inning, when the first three batters of the inning reached to put the go-ahead run in the batter's box. Grace Harris, on for starter Katie Jonas, worked her way out of the jam while holding the Panthers to one run, then retired all three batters in order in the seventh to seal the victory for the Hillsdale.

Craft and Davis each finished with two hits to lead the Chargers at the plate, and Emma Sather added a single and a stolen base as well.

Katie Jonas (6-4) pitched five strong innings to get the win for the Chargers, striking out one, walking one and giving up just one earned run. Harris picked up where Jonas left off to record her third save of the season, throwing two innings of hitless, scoreless softball to get Hillsdale across the finish line.

Hillsdale is now 23-16 overall, 11-5 in the G-MAC, and returns home next week for two critical doubleheaders. While the Chargers are three games back of first place, Hillsdale is still in the title hunt as many of the four teams ahead of the Chargers still have multiple games to play against each other, giving Hillsdale a window of opportunity if the Chargers can finish strong. The Chargers first play Thomas More this coming Saturday, April 18, in a doubleheader starting at noon.