The Detroit Titans softball team competed but dropped a non-conference doubleheader to in-state rival Oakland Monday afternoon at the OU Softball Field. Senior Jacqueline Nortman (Groves, TX/Monsignor. Kelly Catholic) recorded her first career triple coupled with a three-run home run from junior Erica Houthoofd (Unionville, MI/Unionville Sebewaing Area) pushed Detroit to a 4-1 lead but it was not enough as the Titans could not hold off the Golden Grizzlies falling 7-4 in the night cap after a 4-0 setback in game one.
Nortman led UDM (7-35) on the day going 3-for-6 with an RBI and run followed by sophomore Ellen Sinclair (Chatham, ON/Chatham-Kent) who also hit 3-for-6. Houthoofd's home run was her third of the season which ranks second on the team.
Oakland (21-27) was paced by junior Anne Cicchini who hit 4-for-6 with two RBI and two runs.
After three scoreless innings in game two, Detroit got it first scoring chance with runners on first and second on a fielder's choice by Sinclair andsingle bysophomore Kristin Sclater (Taylor, MI/Kennedy). However, OU pitcher Brittnay Doyle forced junior Jessica Liebner (Ortonville, MI/Brandon) to hit into a 6-4-3 double play to end the inning
Oakland then took a 1-0 lead on a RBI single by Angela Righetti in the bottom of the inning.
The Titans struck back in the top of the fifth as Nortman singled to right center field to score junior Caitlin McPartlin (Trenton, MI/Trenton) and move freshman Krissy Pitock (Carleton, MI/Carleton-Airport) over to third base. After Marisa Everitt entered the game to pitch, Houthoofd laced her offering deep down the left field line over the fence to give Detroit a 4-1 lead.
The Golden Grizzlies came right back in the bottom half to tie the game at 4-4 with three runs on four hits and took a 7-4 lead in the bottom of the sixth inning on RBI single and double coupled with a UDM throwing error.
Nortman led off the seventh inning with her triple but was left stranded as OU senior pitcher Jessica Granger, who came into the game in a relief effort, struck out the last two UDM batters to pressure the 7-4 win.
Game one also began as a pitcher's duel as neither team could get on the board through the first three innings. Detroit had two scoring opportunities but could not get any runners across the plate against Granger who picked up the win tying the single-season school record with her seventh shutout.
Freshman Kara Spinelli (Newman, CA/Orestimba) went six innings allowing four runs (two earned) with two strikeouts and only one walk.
Detroit recorded its first hit of the game in the third inning as McPartlin dropped in a single to left field followed by a bunt single to third base by Pitock. Nortman advanced the runners to second and third on a sacrifice bunt but Granger was able to strikeout the last batter to end the Titan's best scoring threat.
In the fourth, Sinclair singled to center field and advanced to second on a throwing error. However, Granger once again ended the threat retiring the last two batters to keep the game scoreless.
Oakland broke through in the bottom of the frame on a RBI single by Righetti and ground out by Kylie Schalz to take a 2-0 lead.
In the sixth inning, Oakland added two more runs aided by a costly UDM error as Julie Owen doubled to right center field and advanced to third on a fielding miscue. Danielle Peters pinch hit and drove in Owen on a single to left field. After the Titans recorded two outs which should have got them out of the inning, Schalz came through with her second single of the game to move Oakland ahead 4-0.
Detroit will host Eastern Michigan of the Mid-American Conference in a doubleheader Wednesday, April 29 at 3:30 p.m. at Buysse Ballpark.
