Game 1 Box Score
Game 2 Box Score
The Detroit Titans softball team dropped a non-conference doubleheader to instate rival Central Michigan Tuesday afternoon at Margo Jonker Stadium. Detroit put up in a valiant effort in game two but came up short, 2-1, after suffering a 12-3 setback in game one.
Freshman Kara Spinelli (Newman, CA/Orestimba) rebounded after tough outing in the first game with a solid performance in the nightcap, going six innings with only two runs, both of which were unearned, with two strikeouts.
On the day, the Titans (7-28) were led by sophomore Ellen Sinclair (Chatham, ON/Chatham-Kent), who recorded three of Detroit eight total hits going 3-for-5 with two runs.
Central Michigan (9-21) was led by junior Katie Greenman who went 4-for-6 with five RBI.
In game two, Detroit threatened in the second inning as sophomore Kristin Sclater (Taylor, MI/Kennedy) reached and advanced to second base on a dropped fly ball by the CMU right fielder. She was then moved to third on a single by junior Jessica Liebner (Ortonville, MI/Brandon) but was left stranded as CMU pitcher Kim Campbell retired the last to batters to get out of the jam.
Central took an early 2-0 lead with a single and sacrifice fly to capitalize on two costly Titan fielding errors which put runners on base and scoring position.
UDM cut the lead to 2-1 in the fourth off a RBI single from sophomore Breana Sesoko (Anaheim Hills, CA/Canyon) to score Sinclair. The Titans had a chance to possibly add more runs as freshman Melissa Barrett (Taylor, MI/Kennedy) hit the ball low to second base where Kim Cozat extended to make the catch and double up Liebner at second base.
Déjà vu struck UDM in the next inning as the Titans had runners in scoring position at first and second with one out. However, senior Jacqueline Nortman (Groves, TX/Msgr. Kelly Catholic) hit a laser right at the CMU shortstop Brittini Merchant, who snagged the ball and quickly applied the tag to junior Caitlin McPartlin (Trenton, MI/Trenton) who was caught off the bag.
In the top of the seventh, freshman Krissy Pitock (Carleton, MI/Carleton-Airport) drew at two-out walk followed by a Nortman infield single which remained in fair territory after hitting the bat lying next to the batter's box. Campbell then forced junior Erica Houthoofd (Unionville, MI/Unionville Sebewaing Area) to ground out back to the circle to end the game.
In game one, CMU got thing goings in the third inning as Tracy Kaatz got aboard with a single and stole second base. After another single and stolen base by Christina Novak, Katie Greenman made the Titans pay with a double to left center field to put the Chippewas up 2-0.
The Detroit struck back in the top of the fourth inning as Sinclair and Sclater both got aboard with back-to-back walks. Liebner reached on a throwing error by the CMU third baseman which allowed Sinclair to score. sophomore Kristen Gulock (Warren, MI/Regina) then reached on a fielder's choice as Sclater just beat the throw home. Freshman Rachel Copple (Dearborn Heights, MI/Allen Park Cabrini) then followed with a sacrifice fly to right field to score Liebner for a 3-2 Titan lead.
UDM's lead was short lived as Molly Coldren lead off the bottom of the frame with a triple and was brought in by a RBI single by Amanda Patrick to tie the game at 3-3. The Chips added three more runs on a double and single to move ahead 6-3.
CMU increased it lead in the fifth inning with four runs on four hits to take a commanding 10-3 lead and finished the game off with a two-run homer in the sixth by Cozat for a 12-3 victory.
Detroit travels to local foe Wayne State for a non-conference doubleheader on Thursday at 4 p.m. Game one is slated to be televised live on Comcast channel 900.
