Detroit vs. UIC Game 3 Stats (HTML)

Trailing by eight entering their half of the third inning at Buysse Ballpark Sunday afternoon, the UDM softball team plated three runs and chipped into the UIC lead, but the Titans were unable to muster up anything else offensively and suffered a 12-3 loss.

The Flames made their mark on the scoreboard in the first inning, taking full advantage of a Titan error to score to charge out to a 3-0 lead. With two outs, a groundball to short was mishandled, giving UIC (21-31, 14-7 Horizon League) runners at the corners and an extra out. Flames starting pitcher Ashley Hewett gave herself some support in the form of a three-run homer.

UIC then rattled off seven hits in the second inning off Detroit (3-34, 0-21 Horizon League) starter Kara Spinelli (Newman, CA/Orestimba), plating another five runs and extending their lead to 8-0. 

Spinelli settled down after the first two innings, holding the Flames off the board and allowing just two hits over the next three innings. She also got things started offensively for the Titans in the third, drawing a leadoff walk and becoming UDM's first base runner of the day. Senior left fielder Brigid Mulroy (West Bloomfield, MI/Marian) followed with a perfectly placed bunt, scooting Spinelli up to second and reaching first safely. Junior second baseman Stefanie Morong (Ludington, MI/Mason County Central) made her way to the plate with one out, and laced a single up the middle to load the bases for sophomore third baseman Renee Zaccagni (Macomb, MI/Dakota), who sent a drive to the fence in left-center, notching her second double of the season and driving in the Titans' first runs of the series. Senior Erica Houthoofd (Unionville, MI/Unionville-Sebewaing Area) drove in the last run of the frame on a sacrifice hit back to the pitcher that scored Morong. 

The Titans had runners on in each of their final three at-bats, and received hits from sophomores Melissa Barrett (Taylor, MI/Kennedy) and Rachel Copple (Dearborn Hts., MI/Allen Park Cabrini), but were unable to advance anyone past second. Spinelli cruised through the third, fourth and fifth innings in the circle, but five hits, including a pair of solo home runs, for the Flames in the sixth put the game out of reach. 

Three Detroit errors in the ballgame led to six unearned runs for UIC, which tallied 16 hits in all three games of the weekend series. 

With just five games remaining on the schedule, Detroit will host Oakland University (15-32) for the final home doubleheader of the season on Tuesday, beginning at 3:00 p.m. It will be Senior Day at Buysse Ballpark as the Titans will recognize seniors Jessica Liebner (Ortonville, MI/Brandon), Houthoofd and Mulroy for their contributions to the UDM softball program.