Detroit vs. Green Bay Game 1 Stats (HTML)

Detroit vs. Green Bay Game 2 Stats (HTML)

After dropping game one of Saturday's doubleheader against the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, 5-2, the Titans rallied twice in game two in an attempt to earn a split on the day but were unable to keep the Phoenix bats quiet, falling 16-4 in the second contest.

Trailing, 4-0, as they came up to bat in the fourth inning of the second game, the Titans (2-21, 0-11 Horizon League) halved Green Bay's (16-8, 2-2 Horizon League) lead when senior catcher Jessica Liebner (Ortonville, MI/Brandon) followed senior center fielder Erica Houthoofd's (Unionville, MI/Unionville-Sebewaing Area) walk with a two-run blast over the left field fence.

But, with the deficit down to two, UDM was unable to hold the Phoenix off the scoreboard in the fifth. UWGB got the two runs back on a pinch-hit home run from Cassie Scheel, and the margin was again at four.

Green Bay then increased its lead again, to 10-2, with a four-run sixth inning, highlighted by a three-run homerun off the bat of third baseman Dani Peerenboom. But facing an early end to the game if they didn't answer, the Titans showed they weren't about to quit. Relief pitcher Andi Pigeon sat down the first two Detroit batters she faced, but Houthoofd managed to draw her second walk of the day, and once again Liebner came up big, doubling down the left field line for her second extra base hit of the game, putting runners at second and third with two outs. Sophomore shortstop Rachel Copple (Dearborn Hts., MI/Allen Park Cabrini) came up next and recorded her first hit of the day, knocking a two-run single into left center field.

Once again, however, the Phoenix would respond with six runs of their own in the seventh inning. Green Bay's first four batters of the inning recorded hits and a Detroit error granted the visitors an extra out in the final inning.

Freshman Anna Bondy (Newport, MI/Carleton-Airport) started both games on the mound, and went 3.0 innings in game two before giving way to sophomore Kara Spinelli (Newman, CA/Orestimba), who took the loss. Spinelli went 2.2 innings in the second game, allowing seven runs, only four earned, and striking out one. Bondy held the Phoenix to three runs in her three innings of work in game two, which was preceded by a stellar complete game from the rookie hurler in game one.

In Saturday's first game, Bondy took the loss after allowing just eight hits and five runs (four earned), while striking out three and allowing just one free pass.

The Titans held the early lead, as the UDM offense put up a quick run in the bottom of the first after Bondy stranded the bases loaded in the top of the frame. Junior first baseman Stefanie Morong (Ludington, MI/Mason County Central) opened the game with a single up the middle, moving her way up to second base on a sacrifice bunt from sophomore third baseman Renee Zaccagni (Macomb, MI/Dakota). Houthoofd then beat out a groundball in the infield after the Green Bay shortstop took too long in an unsuccessful attempt to look Morong back at second, and the Titans wound up with runners at the corners. Liebner capitalized on the RBI opportunity with a single into the right-center gap, which would have resulted in another first and third situation for Detroit, but a perfect throw right fielder Jenna Nitti got Houthoofd out at third.

Bondy kept the Phoenix off the scoreboard in the second, but a rocky third inning cost the Titans. Green Bay started the third with a single, a hit batter and a Titan fielding error to load the bases with no outs. The first run came across on a fielder's choice, and two more came in to score on a single to left followed by a wild pitch. One more single in the inning gave the Phoenix another and left the Titans trailing, 4-1.

UDM got off to a quick start though in the fifth inning, with a leadoff double from freshman right fielder Katie Schaus (Unionville, MI/Unionville-Sebewaing Area). Senior left fielder Brigid Mulroy (West Bloomfield, MI/Marian) followed it up with a single through the right side, and Schaus would come across to score, making the score 4-2, when the throw in from right field ricocheted off the catcher's shin guard and came to a stop in the Titans dugout. The errant throw also advanced Mulroy up to third base, but UWGB starter Katie Cooney got a pair of fly outs and strikeout to thwart the threat.

An insurance run in the top of the seventh pushed Green Bay's up, 5-2, and the Titans failed to get any offense going against closer Tieraney Planasch, going down in order in the final frame.

Seven Titans tallied hits today, and Liebner led the bunch with three hits in the twin bill, including two for extra bases, and drove in three runs on the day.

Detroit and Green Bay face off one more time, beginning at 11:00 a.m. Sunday at Buysse Ballpark. Following the game, all UDM donors, alumni and friends of the softball program are invited to attend a cookout at the Titan Tennis Complex, located on the south side of Calihan Hall.