FINDLAY,Ohio- Hillsdale was crowned the 2023 Great Midwest Softball Champion for the third time in program history on Saturday afternoon.
The Chargers, seeded second in the bracket, went 3-0 at Marathon Diamonds before falling to Findlay in the first game of the championship.
Hillsdale defeated No. 7 Ashland and No. 3 Trevecca to lock in a spot in the finals. The two programs met in the third round as Hillsdale handed the Oilers their first lost of the tournament by a score of 4-0. The two would later meet in Saturday’s final.
Findlay won the first game in a close 3-2 battle. Hillsdale jumped to a 2-0 lead as McKenna Eichholz drove in a two-run RBI with a single up the middle. Findlay’s Annika Bredel answered with a two-run homer to tie the game in the top of the fourth. With the bases loaded, Findlay’s Caroline Turner was walked as Findlay went on to score the winning run.
The loss to Findlay was Hillsdale’s first of the tournament, forcing a second game to take place.
The Chargers answered to open the second game, jumping to a 9-0 start before the Oilers scored in the bottom of the sixth to make the final score 9-1.
Hillsdale totaled nine RBIs, with Jenna Cantalupo leading the way with four. Cantalupo was named the tournament’s MVP and teammates Joni Russell, McKenna Eichholz, Emma Sather, and Hailey Holtman earned spots on the all-tournament team.
The Great Midwest Pitcher of the Year in Joni Russell was credited with the win, pitching a complete game to put her at 19-7 this season. Russell gave up only four hits and one earned-run, while striking out five batters.
Hillsdale (35-19, 17-5) will be the Great Midwest automatic qualifier in the NCAA Division II Softball Championship. The 2023 Softball selection show is scheduled for May 8 at 10 A.M. ET.
A full list of the 2023 Softball All-Tournament Team can be found below.
Great Midwest Softball All-Tournament Team:
Jenna Cantalupo,
Hillsdale, MVP
Joni Russell,
Hillsdale
McKenna Eichholz,
Hillsdale
Emma Sather,
Hillsdale
Hailey Holtman,
Hillsdale
Makayla Cowan,
Findlay
Emma Jones,
Findlay
Annika Bredel,
Findlay
Maci Head,
Tiffin
Claire Feldkamp,
Tiffin
Ashlan Sensing,
Trevecca Nazarene
Kendall Andrews,
Trevecca Nazarene