Detroit vs. Valparaiso Game 1 Stats (HTML)

Detroit vs. Valparaiso Game 2 Stats (HTML)

Titans senior catcher Jessica Liebner (Ortonville, MI/Brandon) and junior pitcher/first baseman Stefanie Morong (Ludington, MI/Mason County Central) each notched a pair of hits as UDM hosted league foe Valparaiso at Buysse Ballpark for a doubleheader Friday, but the Titans were unable to slow down a hot Valpo offense and dropped both games.

After dropping the first game of the day, 10-0, Detroit (2-15, 0-5 Horizon League) trailed early again in the second contest as Valparaiso (22-7, 4-0 Horizon League) recorded three hits and drove in two runs in the top of the first inning.

The Crusaders continued to swing hot sticks, putting up five runs in the second frame and four in the third before the Titans plated two runs in the bottom of the third inning.

Back-to-back base hits from Morong and sophomore third baseman Renee Zaccagni (Macomb, MI/Dakota) started the inning for the Titans. Morong was forced out at third on a groundball off the bat of senior center fielder Erica Houthoofd (Unionville, MI/Unionville-Sebewaing Area), but a throwing error by the Crusaders allowed Zaccagni to advance to third and Houthoofd to scoot up to second base. Liebner came to the plate next, flying out to deep center field but allowing both runners to advance. Sophomore shortsthop Rachel Copple (Dearborn Hts., MI/Allen Park Cabrini) then notched the third UDM hit of the inning, driving in Houthoofd from third. With two runs in, the Crusaders made a pitching change, and Shaleigh Jansen came in to record the final out of the inning.

Detroit was unable to get any offense going the rest of the way, stranding Morong at first after she led off the fifth inning with an infield single to shortstop.

Morong picked up the loss in the circle in the second game, which ended up 18-2 for the visitors, going all five innings and striking out three. Freshman Anna Bondy (Newport, MI/Carleton-Airport) got the starting nod in game one and lasted four innings before giving way to Morong.

Valparaiso managed two runs off of Bondy in the first inning of game one, but Bondy then settled down and held the Crusaders scoreless in the second and third. After a leadoff single in the second, Bondy retired six straight Valpo batters. But a pair of Titan errors in the fourth inning allowed the visitors to put up for unearned runs and pull out a 6-0 lead.

The Titans will get one more crack at the Crusaders Saturday, as the two squads face off for their final regular season game at Buysse Ballpark with first pitch scheduled for noon. Live stats are available and can be viewed right here.