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Softball takes two from Findlay
By Jodi Westrick
Collegian Reporter
Sophomore Lindsey McNaughton has been stepping
up when the Charger softball team needs her.
McNaughton led the Chargers to a 10-0 victory
against Findlay after pitching a shutout Wednesday. The Chargers
also won the night cap, 3-2.
McNaughton also contributed to two victories
on Monday against Adrian. The Chargers defeated the Maples,
4-2, in the first game, then won in five innings of play after
McNaughton hit a three-run homer to give Hillsdale the victory.
The Chargers now stand at 11-11-1 overall,
4-4 in the GLIAC.
"As a freshman, Lindsey stepped up to
the challenge when Joelle [Frantz] was injured," junior
Wendy Miedema said. "As a sophomore, she's doing it again.
No matter what she's doing in the game, she's always contributing."
Senior Sara Lesko also added to Hillsdale's
first victory over Findlay, going 2-4 at the plate with 2 RBIs.
Junior Amy Paling went 1-2, driving in one
run in the second game.
Against Adrian, freshman Amy Whaley notched
five strikeouts without walking a single batter in the first
game, while junior Colleen McNutt stepped up to pitch four innings
in the second game, striking out four.
The Chargers dropped three GLIAC games this
past weekend, splitting two games with Ferris State, losing
1-2 and winning 4-2 in nine innings on Friday. They faced Grand
Valley State on Saturday, losing 1-3 and 0-6.
"Grand Valley and Ferris State were the
only undefeated teams in our league," coach Jay Jondro
said.
"Grand Valley has senior pitcher [Jennifer]
Mackson that pitched them to a national championship two years
ago."
The Chargers won their nightcap against the
Bulldogs after junior Brianna Hohensee reached first on an error
by the third baseman. Freshman Ashley Wolff pinch ran for Hohensee
and scored after a single hit by Lesko.
Despite the fact that the Chargers have been
hitting more consistently than their opponents, producing 19
hits compared to Ferris State's eight the team isn't satisfied
with their performance at the plate.
"Our hitting wasn't all there,"
junior Stefanie Stavale said.
"There were a couple of really bad innings
that took us out of the game. We need to stop making mental
errors and stay focused the entire game."
Despite the Chargers' effort in the batter's
box, they haven't been able to come up with a solid batting
strategy.
"We need to hit when we get base runners
in scoring position," Jondro said.
"In most of our losses, we have hit well
against our opponents but have not gotten that key hit."
The Chargers take on Lake Superior State at
3 p.m. on Friday, Northwood at 1 p.m. on Saturday and Saginaw
Valley State at 1 p.m. on Sunday.
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