Detroit (3-14, 0-2 HL) put forth a valiant effort but lost a heartbreaker in the first game and had trouble recovering in the second game.
With the Titans leading 4-1 in the bottom of the seventh inning, Valpo (14-6, 2-0 HL) rallied for five runs spearheaded by a three-run home run by sophomore Sadi Conner to tie the game. After back-to-back bunt singles, senior Ashley Wolter singled in the winning run for the Crusaders.
Detroit finished with four runs on sixth hits while Valparaiso tallied five runs on 15 hits. Defensively the Titans turned three double plays in key situations to maintain its lead through the first six innings.
Offensively, sophomore Chelsea Lathrop (Colleyville, TX/Grapevine) led the way from the plate going 2-for-3 with two runs scored. Junior Kristin Sclater (Taylor, MI/Kennedy) went 1-for-3 belting her second home run of the season finishing with a RBI and run scored while sophomore Ellen Sinclair (Chatham, ON/Chatham-Kent) hit 1-for-3 with two RBI. Junior Katelyn McCutcheon (Pleasant Ridge, MI/Ferndale) also hit 1-for-3 while junior Erica Houthoofd (Unionville, MI/Sebewaing Area) went 1-for-4 with a RBI double.
On the mound, junior Jill Perry (Ortonville, MI/ Brandon) picked up the no decision allowing four runs (one unearned) on 11 hits with three strikeouts. Freshman Kara Spinelli (Newman, CA/Orestimba) picked up the loss in a relief effort in the bottom of the seventh.
After battling in a seven pitch at bat, Sclater give the Titans a 1-0 lead off a solo home run over the left field fence in the top of the second inning.
Detroit added two more runs as Lathrop singled up the middle followed by senior Jacqueline Nortman (Groves, TX/Msgr. Kelly Catholic) who reached on a fielder's choice. Houthoofd advanced both runners to second and third on a sacrifice bunt followed by a two RBI single up the middle by Sinclair giving the Titans a 3-0 lead.
In the bottom half of the frame, Perry pitched out of a jam retiring three straight batters with runners on second and third with no outs.
Houthoofd put Detroit up 4-0 with a RBI double to score Lathrop in the top of the fifth.
Valpo got on the board at 4-1 as Wolter singled up the middle to score Strickland the bottom of the sixth inning.
In the second game, Detroit had trouble mounting any offense against senior Valpo pitcher Stephanie Kelly who went the distance tallying five strikeouts while allowing only two Titan hits by Nortman and freshman Rachel Copple (Dearborn Heights, MI / Allen Park Cabrini).
Conversely, the Crusader's offense awoke posting seven runs on 12 hits to secure the win.
The Titans and Crusaders play the series finale on Sunday, March 22 at 1 p.m. EST.
