Game 1 Box Score
Game 2 Box Score

DETROIT -- The Detroit softball team pounded out 19 hits and 17 runs on the day as the Titans edged Canisius, 9-8, in game one before falling in extra innings in game two by the same score, despite a seven-run seventh inning that wiped away an 8-1 deficit.

Detroit hit its second grand slam in the last three games in game one, and a Titan sweep nearly came in game two after Detroit drew even with seven runs in the seventh. UDM looked like it would earn the sweep, but a close call at the plate ended the rally sending the game into extra innings.

In that second contest, Detroit (5-19) was down 8-1 heading into the bottom of the seventh and scored seven runs to tie the game. Junior Whitney Stratton (Muskegon, MI/Fruitport) stood on second base representing the winning run. With two outs, the game tied, and runners at first and second, junior Rachel Copple (Dearborn Heights, MI/Cabrini) singled to center and Stratton was waved home. The umpire ruled that the tag from the catcher beat Stratton's touch at home which would have given Detroit the win, but instead sent the affair into extra innings.

Detroit hit the board first in the third inning as Stratton continued her hot hitting with a solo blast to right. The shot extended her hitting streak to 11 games.

The Golden Griffins (11-11) plated four runs in the fifth, a single run in the sixth, and added three more tallies in the top of the seventh to put Canisius up 8-1 heading into the bottom of the seventh.

Having surpassed an 8-2 deficit in the seventh inning earlier in the year in a 10-9 win over South Dakota, Detroit went to work. Stratton led off the frame with a double and scored on a Copple RBI single. With runners on first and second, freshman Sara Cupp (Hartland, MI/Milford) hit into a fielder's choice as freshman Katelyn Steffel (Defiance, OH/Defiance) came around to score.

Two batters later, freshman Shelby Long (St. Peters, MO/Fort Zumwalt) worked a walk to load the bases and junior Renee Zaccagni (Macomb, MI/Dakota) followed with a single up the middle to cash in a pair of runs. Down to their final out, the Titans went to their bench for a pinch hitter and the move could not have worked out any better as freshman Karyn McCarty (Allen Park, MI/Cabrini) tied the game at eight-all with a three-run shot to right field.

The inning continued as Stratton struck out, but a wild pitch allowed her to reach first. Steffel drew her second walk of the game that brought Copple to the plate for the single that would result in Stratton being called out at the plate forcing extra innings.

In the Canisius eighth, a single, a stolen base, and a passed ball put the go-ahead run on third base. A single in the next at-bat brought in the eventual winning run.

The Titan eighth saw Cupp reach first with a single, but the offense would halt there as Detroit fell in a close 9-8 contest.

In the first game of the day, freshman Erin Huddleston (Normal, IL/Normal West) laced a three-run shot over the fence in centerfield in a four-run Titan first inning. It was Huddleston's fourth home run of the season and team leading 13th RBI on the year.

Canisius took back the lead after a five-run fourth and single runs in the next two frames put the Golden Griffins up 7-4 before the Titans responded in the sixth in a big way.

Stratton led off the inning with a base knock to extend her hitting streak and Cupp brought her home with an RBI single. Three batters later, Long came to the plate with the bases loaded and hit the team's second grand slam in the last three games. Long's second home run of the year sailed out to left field giving the Titans a 9-7 lead.

Canisius added an RBI single in the seventh, but freshman Julia Maksym (3-6) (Manistee, MI/Manistee) shut the door in three innings of relief to preserve the win for Detroit.

Detroit will now hit the road for seven-straight contests starting with a pair of games scheduled for tomorrow at Central Michigan. First pitch is set for 2:00 p.m.