NASHVILLE – In a matchup of the top two teams in the Great Midwest Conference standings, the Hillsdale College Chargers (22-12, 10-2 Great Midwest) swept a doubleheader from Trevecca Nazarene (15-9, 7-3) Saturday afternoon, taking Game 1, 8-0, in six innings and winning Game 2, 6-5. Despite dropping both ends of the doubleheader - Trevecca's first back-to-back losses since a five-game slide to start the 2021 season - Trevecca remains in second in the Great Midwest standings, ahead of Ohio Dominican (19-12, 9-5) on winning percentage.

SEASON ESSENTIALS

G-MAC Standings | G-MAC Stats | G-MAC Scores | 2021 G-MAC Championships 

HOW IT HAPPENED

GAME 1

Hillsdale got on the board with a single run in the top of the second inning before scoring three more times in the third to open up a 4-0 lead after three innings. The Chargers added a pair of runs in the fourth and sixth innings to close out the scoring.

Trevecca did have some scoring chances, finishing with eight hits in the game and getting runners in scoring position in four of the six innings. However, the Trojans were unable to get the one extra hit needed to bring those runners home and were shut out for the first time since a 6-0 loss to Indianapolis all the way back on February 27.

GAME

The Chargers scored single runs in the first and second and two more times in the third to grab a 4-0 lead after the opening three innings. However, Trevecca started to rally in the bottom of the fourth. Malone Thrift doubled to lead off the inning and moved to third on a wild pitch. After a groundout, Anna Bennett lifted a sacrifice fly to center field to bring home Thrift and cut Hillsdale's lead to 4-1

In the next inning, Trevecca scored three more runs to tie the game at 4. Paige and MaKray Odom singled to lead off the frame and after a sacrifice bunt, Carly Sperlich stepped to the plate with runners on second and third with one out. She promptly launched a Camryn Olson pitch over the centerfield wall for her team-leading fifth homer of the season to make it 4-4. The tie didn't last long, though, as Hillsdale scored a single run in the top of the sixth to re-take the lead, 5-4, before adding an insurance run in the seventh to go up, 6-4.

Trevecca didn't go quietly, though, in the bottom half. Odom and Lenna Robinson singled with one out to put runners on first and second. Sperlich singled to right to bring home Odom, making it 6-5 and putting runners on first and third with one out. That prompted a pitching change by the Chargers and a walk of Brooke Eakes loaded the bases for Trevecca with only one out. However, Hillsdale's Erin Kapteyn righted the ship, coaxing a pair of flyouts by Trevecca to end the game

CIRCLE AND BOX NOTES

GAME 1

Seven different Trvecca players had at least one hit, with Abbie Paige (2-for-2) being the lone Trevecca player with multiple hits. Raygn Hall (7-6) started in the circle and took the loss, allowing five earned runs on seven hits with two walks in three innings of work.

GAME 2

The Trojans had 10 more hits in the nightcap, with seven different players recording at least one hit. Sperlich ended the day 3-for-3 with a homer and four RBI, Odom was 2-for-4 with two runs scored and Thrift had a double and scored a run for Trevecca. Alex Behnke started the game in the circle for Trevecca, allowing four runs (all earned) on six hits with three walks and a strikeout in two innings. Hall (7-7) came out of the bullpen and took the loss, giving up two runs (both earned) on seven hits with a walk and a strikeout in five innings. 

WHAT'S NEXT

The Trojans will continue their 10-game homestand on April 23 when they take on the Cedarville University Yellowjackets (17-13, 6-6) in a Great Midwest Conference doubleheader. The first pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m

The rest of the regular-season slate includes a home doubleheader against Ohio Dominican University (April 24) and a road trip to Lake Erie College (April 30) and Ursuline College (May 1) for a pair of Great Midwest twin bills.

The Great Midwest Athletic Conference Championships are set for May 6-8.

MORE ABOUT THE TREVECCA TROJANS

Visit the Official Home of Trevecca Athletics at www.tnutrojans.com

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