Detroit vs. Cleveland State Stats Game 1 (HTML)

Detroit vs. Cleveland State Stats Game 2 (HTML)

The University of Detroit Mercy softball team tied a season-high with four runs in the fifth inning of the first game of its doubleheader with Cleveland State Tuesday evening, but struggled offensively the rest of the way, dropping game one, 12-4, in six innings, and game two, 10-0, in five.

Detroit (2-18, 0-8 Horizon League) was never able to figure out Vikings' pitcher Amanda Macenko, the two-time defending league pitcher of the year. The senior tossed 11.0 innings for Cleveland State (23-8, 4-1 Horizon League), allowing just one run and one hit, and no-hit the Titans in game two.

But a quick pitching change was just what the Titans needed in order to find their way on the board. Cleveland State brought Kayla Allred in relief of Macenko to start the fifth in game one, and UDM immediately banged out its first hit of the ballgame, a single to right from sophomore shortstop Rachel Copple (Dearborn Hts., MI/Allen Park). The Vikings then attempted to throw out an advancing Copple on a sacrifice bunt from freshman right fielder Katie Schaus (Unionville, MI/Unionville-Sebewaing Area), but the throw was late, leaving UDM with runners at first and second and no outs. Copple and Schaus both moved up one base on a passed ball, and a groundball to second base hit by sophomore Kara Spinelli (Newman, CA/Orestimba) was mishandled, allowing Spinelli to reach safely as Copple came across the plate, cutting the CSU lead to 7-1.

Cleveland State brought Macenko back to the circle to try and stop the bleeding, but Detroit had its spark and was just starting to heat up. One pitch later, a wild pitch brought Schaus into score and Spinelli up to second base, and a sac bunt from sophomore second baseman Melissa Barrett (Taylor, MI/Kennedy) put Spinellis at third with one out. Sophomore left fielder Krissy Pitock (Carleton, MI/Carleton-Airport) then walked, bringing junior Stefanie Morong (Ludington, MI/Mason County Central) to the dish. Morong singled up the middle, driving in Spinelli and moving the Titans within 7-3. In an attempt to move into scoring position, Morong was thrown out stealing second, but Pitock was able to scamper across the plate, making the score 7-4 before a strikeout would finally end the Titan rally.

UDM's four runs in the frame equaled the most runs Detroit has scored in an inning all season, having accomplished the same feat during a 9-2 win over the University of Michigan-Dearborn on March 19. The four runs is also the most runs the Titans have scored since that victory.

Unfortunately for the Titans, Cleveland State answered back with three fifth-inning runs of their to extend their lead back to 10-4, and Macenko would return to her dominating ways in the sixth, striking UDM out in order before the Vikings hit two solo home runs in the bottom of the inning to end the first contest, 12-4.

Morong started in the circle in game two, and cruised through the first two innings while facing just seven batters. Defensive woes in the third inning allowed the Vikings to grab a 3-0 lead, and they added onto it with a seven-spot in the fourth. CSU scored eight runs off Morong, only four earned, as Detroit committed costly errors in each of Cleveland's scoring innings.

Detroit will remain in Cleveland to finish off its three-game set with the Vikings Wednesday afternoon when the teams take the field at 1:00 p.m.