The Detroit Titans softball team fought hard but fell short in heartbreaking fashion to visiting Loyola in Horizon League doubleheader action at Buysse Ballpark Saturday afternoon.
The Titans (7-39, 3-16) took the lead on two different occasions in the second game but could not hold off a late Loyola (25-22, 13-10) rally as the Ramblers edged the Titans 9-8 after winning the opening contest, 12-4.
On the day, sophomores Kristin Sclater (Taylor, MI/Kennedy) and Ellen Sinclair (Chatham, ON/Chatham-Kent) carried the offensive load for UDM as Sclater hit 4-for-7 with two home runs and a team-high four RBI while Sinclair went 5-for-6 with a home run, double and four runs scored.
Detroit took an early first inning lead in the night cap as Sinclair singled to score senior Jacqueline Nortman (Groves, TX/Monsignor. Kelly Catholic) from third base followed by and double steal which scored sophomore Breana Sesoko (Anaheim Hills, CA/Canyon), putting the Titans up 2-0.
The UDM offense continued to hit on all cylinders in the third as Sinclair once again singled, bringing home Nortman with junior Courtney Gill (Surrey, B.C./Earl Marriott) reaching on a fielder's choice suicide squeeze to score Sesoko. Freshman Rachel Copple (Dearborn Heights, MI/Allen Park Cabrini) and sophomore Kristen Gulock (Warren, MI/Regina) also recorded back-to-back fielder's choices to plate Sinclair and Gill, giving UDM a 6-0 lead.
Loyola began chipping away in the fourth as sophomore Jenna Grim hit a solo home run to put the Ramblers on the board.
LUC followed with a big a big fifth inning to tie the game at 6-6 scoring five runs on five hits highlighted by a two RBI single by junior Stephanie Cihlar.
Detroit responded on the bottom half of the inning to regain the lead, 8-6, getting two solo homers from Sinclair and Sclater.
However, with two outs in the sixth inning, Detroit's defense committed a costly fielding error allowing freshman Lauren Arceneaux to score from second, pulling Loyola with in one, 8-7.
In the top of the seventh with one out, Loyola got runners on first and third with two singles. The Titans once again committed a costly error as a failed pick-off attempt allowed the tying run to score and the go-ahead run to advance to third. With the game knotted at 8-8, junior Angie Funston laid down a bunt single to bring home the second unearned run of the inning, putting Loyola up 9-8.
UDM got a runner on in the bottom of the seventh but senior Kristina Crosson struck the last two Titan batters out looking to end the game.
In game one, Detroit was down 5-0 in the second before a two-run homer by Sclater pulled the Titans closer at 5-2.
Loyola tacked on three runs in the third and two in the fourth to take a commanding 10-2 lead. UDM would not quit, responding with two runs highlighted by a Sclater RBI double.
Down 10-4 in the sixth with the bases loaded and two outs, Detroit had a chance to inch closer as Sesoko hit a hard grounder which the second baseman bobbled but was able to control and flip over to first to end the game.
Detroit will close out the regular season with the series finale against Loyola at Buysse Ballpark on Sunday at Noon.
