Detroit vs. Cleveland State Game 3 Stats (HTML)

The Titans got off to a quick start in the final game of their mid-week softball series at Cleveland State University Wednesday afternoon, taking a 1-0 lead in the top of the first on the strength of a home run from senior center fielder Erica Houthoofd (Unionville, MI/Unionville-Sebewaing Area), but the Vikings closed the door from then on, and downed the Titans, 13-2.

Junior pitcher Stefanie Morong (Ludington, MI/Mason County Central) led off for Detroit (2-19, 0-9 Horizon League) in the first for the Titans, hustling out a double down the right field line, but was picked off of second base on a snap throw by CSU (24-8, 5-1 Horizon League) catcher Amy Powell. Houthoofd came to the plate with two outs, and after falling behind in the count, 1-2, turned on an inside pitch and deposited over the batting cages beyond the left field fence.

Houthoofd's home run was the first hit by the Titans since they hit two in a 9-2 victory over the University of Michigan-Dearborn on March 19. The two hits in the inning off of Cleveland State pitcher Amanda Macenko was also more than the Titans tallied in 11.0 innings against Macenko Tuesday.

In their own half of the first, the Vikings replied with a single run of their own, knotting the game, 1-1.

Macenko settled in for CSU after her rocky start, holding Detroit scoreless and allowing only one hit over the next three innings. Meanwhile, the Vikings scored two against Morong in the second, and added three more in the third, thanks to a two-run homer from designated player Katelyn Ciminelli and a solo shot from second baseman, increasing the CSU lead, 6-1.

Sophomore Kara Spinelli (Newman, CA/Orestimba) came on in relief of Morong, getting the final two outs in the third. But Detroit was roughed up in the fourth inning, as Cleveland State knocked five hits, including two doubles, and scored seven runs.

Trailing 13-1 to start the fifth, freshman right fielder Katie Schaus (Unionville, MI/Unionville-Sebewaing Area) drew a leadoff walk and moved up to second on a sacrifice bunt from senior Brigid Mulroy (West Bloomfield, MI/Marian). With Schaus on second, sophomore second baseman Melissa Barrett (Taylor, MI/Kennedy) slapped a single to right, driving in a run and advancing to second as the ball was mishandled by the Vikings' right fielder. But the rally was killed as Macenko recorded a strikeout and groundball to second base to end the game.

“We did a better job of putting the ball in play in this game,” said Detroit head coach Sunny Jones. “But we need to be better in all three phrases for the entire game.”

UDM had four hits in the game, one each from Morong, sophomore third baseman Renee Zaccagni (Macomb, MI/Dakota), Houthoofd and Barrett, but made two costly errors that led to four Cleveland State runs.

Detroit returns to Buysse Ballpark for a weekend set with Horizon League foe University of Wisconsin Green-Bay. The weekend kicks off as that Titans and Phoenix begin a doubleheader at 1:00 p.m. Saturday.