Detroit vs. Wayne State Game 1 Stats (HTML)

Detroit vs. Wayne State Game 2 Stats (HTML)

The Titans were once again plagued by errors as they faced off against crosstown foe Wayne State on Thursday afternoon at Buysse Ballpark, where eight miscues led to six unearned runs as Detroit dropped a pair of games, 6-0 and 4-0.

Sophomore Kara Spinelli (Newman, CA/Orestimba) threw all 14 innings of the doubleheader for Detroit (3-31) against Wayne State (40-9), the ninth-ranked squad in the latest NCAA Division II softball poll.

In the opener, Spinelli allowed just one earned run. The Warriors grabbed the lead in the top of the first, as left fielder Steph LeClair made her way around the bases after reaching on an error to start the game. The lone earned run of the game for WSU came in the second frame, when three consecutive hits brought designated player Sam Cain across the plate. The Warriors were in position to add even more to the board in the second, but with the bases loaded the Titans turned a pair of groundballs into outs and ended the threat.

Spinelli held the Warriors off the board for the next three innings, and the Titans remained close behind, trailing 2-0. But a three-hit, three-error top of the sixth gave Wayne State four unearned runs and extended the advantage to 6-0.

In game two, Spinelli allowed just three hits over the final four innings and struck out a season-high seven batters, but the damage was done early. WSU put up two runs in both the second and third innings, and it proved to be enough.

The Titans threatened to close the gap in the fourth. With one out, senior catcher Erica Houthoofd (Unionville, MI/Unionville-Sebewaing Area) singled to right, and senior third baseman Jessica Liebner (Ortonville, MI/Brandon) followed it up with a single of her own, a line drive up the middle. Next at the plate was freshman right fielder Katie Schaus (Unionville, MI/Unionville-Sebewaing). Schaus hit a dribbler to the shortstop, who attempted to get the force out at third, but a hustling Houthoofd beat the throw, and UDM had the bases loaded with just one down. But a groundball to third from sophomore shortstop Rachel Copple (Dearborn Hts., MI/Allen Park Cabrini) allowed the Warriors to peg Houthoofd at the plate, and the inning came to an end on a strikeout.

Liebner was the pacesetter for Detroit at the plate, with one hit in each game, while Houthoofd, senior left fielder Brigid Mulroy (West Bloomfield, MI/Marian) and sophomore center fielder Melissa Barrett (Taylor, MI/Kennedy) each tallied a single hit in the doubleheader.

Detroit will be off until May 1, when the Titans host HL foe UIC for the beginning of a three-game series at Buysse Ballpark.