Detroit vs. Butler Game 3 Stats (HTML)

Detroit rallied and took advantage of a Butler error in the fourth to score three runs, tying the Sunday finale of the weekend series at four runs apiece, but the Bulldogs managed to put up a pair of their owns runs in the bottom of the inning and held off the Titans, 6-4.

UDM grabbed the lead in the first inning on a hit and three free passes. Sophomore third baseman Renee Zaccagni (Macomb, MI/Dakota) walked with one out, and senior catcher Erica Houthoofd (Unionville, MI/Unionville-Sebewaing Area) followed it up with a single through the right side. Zaccagni would come into score after sophomore shortstop Rachel Copple (Dearborn Hts., MI/Allen Park Cabrini) was hit on the first pitch of her at bat and Katie Schaus drew the second walk of the inning with the bases loaded. The bags remained full of Titans after the walk to Schaus, but a fly ball to left by sophomore pitcher Kara Spinelli (Newman, CA/Orestimba) was corralled and ended the inning with UDM (2-28, 0-18 Horizon League) up, 1-0.

Butler (34-9, 10-3 Horizon League) managed to load the bases in the opening frame as well, but with one out Spinelli snagged a groundball that was heading back up the middle and began the 1-2-3 double play to get out of the jam. However, the Titans were unable to get out the second inning unscathed. A leadoff walk followed by four Bulldog base hits brought three runs across the plate and after two, Butler led 3-1.

A solo home run in the third increased BU's lead to 4-1, but then it was time for the Titans to do work at the plate. Senior left fielder Brigid Mulroy (West Bloomfield, MI/Marian) was the first to reach base for the Titans, sending a hard grounder to the shortstop who overthrew the first baseman. Sophomore Krissy Pitock (Carleton, MI/Carleton-Airport) came in to pinch-run for Mulroy, and a single from sophomore center fielder Melissa Barrett (Taylor, MI/Kennedy) put runners at the corners. Junior second baseman Stefanie Morong (Ludington, MI/Mason County Central) kept the line moving, knocking a base hit of her own into right field to drive in Pitock, and Zaccagni singled to load the bases once again. Barrett came in on a single from senior designated player Jessica Liebner (Ortonville, MI/Brandon), and Morong came in for the final run of the inning a passed ball.

With three runs across the plate already, Detroit still had runners at second and third with two outs, but the Bulldogs made a change, bringing in Jenny Esparza to pitch, who quickly retired the first batter she faced, and the inning came to an end with the score knotted, 4-4.

But BU wasted no time in retaking the lead, using two base knocks and a walk to score a pair of runs.

Neither team was able to find the scoreboard after the fourth frame. Esparza held the Titans to just one base runner in 3.1 innings of work, and while Butler threatened, with runners at second and third and just one out in the fifth, freshman Anna Bondy (Newport, MI/Carleton-Airport) came in to relieve Spinelli and struck out the first two hitters she faced.

Detroit returns to action quickly, heading back to Indiana on Tuesday afternoon for a non-conference twin bill with IPFW in Fort Wayne, IN. The Titans and Mastodons split a doubleheader in Detroit last year, with UDM taking game one, 4-2, before dropping the nightcap, 8-4. The Mastodons are 22-11 on the season.