Softball starts out 3-3 in Florida
The Hocking College Softball team started the first half of their spring break trip in Viera, FL with a 3-3 record. On Sunday in game 1 the Hawks took on Macomb Community College and the bats were red hot as they hammered out 16 hits in a 14-1 rout. After spotting the Monarchs a run in the bottom of the 1st inning, the Hawks took control in the top of the second inning with 3 runs on 5 hits to take a 3-1 lead. The Hawks added another run in the 3rd and 3 more in the 5th to take a 7-1 lead going into the 7th inning. In the 7th, the Hawks scored 7 more times on 6 hits to finish out the scoring. Sophomore Katie Hoffa led the attack going 4 for 5, 3 RBI, and 3 runs scored. Sophomore Alessandra Mavilla went 3 for 5 with a double and triple while, Kristen Stromack went 3 for 5 with two double and a triple along with 3 RBI and 2 runs scored. Sophomore Amanda Lillis went 2 for 5 with a triple and an RBI. Stromack was outstanding in the circle throwing a complete game giving up 3 hits and striking out 11 Monarch hitters.
In game 2 the Hawks took on Bismarck State College and the Mystics came out firing on all cylinders taking a commanding 9-0 going into the bottom of the fourth inning. In that bottom half inning the Hawks started a rally getting two that inning, three in the fifth, 2 in the sixth, and 2 in the seventh to tie it a nine and send the game to the International Tie Breaker. The Mystics struck first before the Hawks could shut them down with a one run lead at 10-9. In the bottom half of the eighth, Kristen Stromack singled home Katie Hoffa to get the game knotted at 10. The Mystics were able to push three runs across in the top of the ninth making the score 13-10 setting the stage for an interesting bottom half of the ninth. After a lead off walk to start the inning, Grace Hash flied out to centerfield and Alessandra Mavilla struck out, sophomore Katie Hoffa, down to her last strike, ripped a triple down the left field line scoring Alexia Spangler and Makayla Ball to close the deficit to one run. However it was not meant to be as Stromack popped out to end the game with the final being 13-12. Leading the 16 hit attack for the Hawks were Mavilla and Hoffa who each tallied 3 hits. Sophomore Amanda Lillis along with Stromack and Hash all had 2 hits each and Freshman Hannah Nicholson chipped in with two hits and an RBI. Sophomore Lexie Wilkes came in relief in the 3rd innning and pitched oustanding striking out 7 and pitching 5 scoreless innnings to allow the Hawks to get back into the game.
On day 2 of the USSSA Space Coast Spring Games the Hawks took on Bryant & Stratton (WI) in a evening doubleheader. In game 1 the Hawks Freshman Alexia Spangler threw five strong innings in the circle in her debut as the Hawks won 3-2 over a Bobcats team that won 33 games in 2023 and lost in the Region 4 finals. After spotting the Bobcats a 1-0 the bats came alive for the Hawks in the fourth inning as Stromack hit a one out triple to right center and scored on a Katie Hoffa single up the middle to tie the score at one. Hoffa moved to second on a walk to Carah Mladek and then scored on a single up the middle by Sophomore Chylece Cluck to give the Hawks the lead at 2-1. In the 5th inning, Grace Hash got the inning started with a double and scored on a two out single by Stromack to stretch the lead to 3-1. In the top of the sixth the Bobcats started with back to back doubles to close the gap to 3-2 before Stromack came in for relief of Spangler and shut the door on the Bobcats in the sixth and seventh to earn a save. Hash and Stromack led the hitting attack with two hits each.
In game 2 the teams flipped home and away and the Hawks couldn't gain any traction and fell to the Bobcats 6-0. Four errors and eight runners left on base hurt the Hawks chances from getting the sweep on the Bobcats. Stromack led the attack with 2 hits. Freshman Emily Hanes pitched well in the circle and unfortunately took the loss.
Earlier today on day 3 at the Space Coast Spring Games the Hawks took on Indiana Wesleyan University JV and took one on the chin 9-1. Katie Hoffa led the hitting attack with 2 hits. Sophomore Lexie Wilkes took the loss for the Hawks in the circle to move to 0-2 on the season.
In game 2 The Hawks took on Region 12 foe Muskegon Community College in the nightcap. Once again the Hawks spotted the Jawyhawks a 1-0 before waking the bats up and getting things going. Hoffa got things going with a double in the fourth inning. Cluck hit a out single to get Hoffa to third and then Emily Hanes got on base with a three base error that scored both Hoffa and Cluck. Hanes then scored on a wild pitch to give the Hawks a 5-2 lead. In the fifth Sophomore Carissa Wheeler got things going with a single and advanced to second with some heads up base running on an error by the Jayhawks. Wheeler then scored on another error by the Jayhawks when Stromack put the ball in play. Stromack got the win in the circle pushing her record to 2-0 as she struck out 11 and only walked 1 hitter. After an off day tomorrow the Hawks return to action Thursday with 2 more games. The Hawks will take on Dakota Wesleyan University JV at 10:00am ET and follow that up with a 12:15pm game against St. Cloud Tech. (Photo Credit to Emily Hanes)