Box Score

CHICAGO (4/19/14) – The University of Detroit Mercy softball team erupted for six runs in the second inning and held off a late seventh inning rally to beat UIC 9-6 Saturday afternoon at Flames Field. The win was the first in the Horizon League for the Titans this season and the first over UIC since topping the Flames 7-6 in 2012.
 
Detroit (5-34, 1-8) took a 9-6 lead into the bottom of the seventh inning and was just one out away from claiming its first win in league play, before the Flames were able to load the bases. UIC (12-20, 6-6) got three runners on with a pair of walks and a hit batter, before junior Kat Hoffman was able to recover by striking out Courtney Heely on 3-2 pitch to secure the win.
 
Detroit started the game swinging with four hits and three runs in the top of the first, two runs crossed the plate after Katelyn Steffel reached safely on a fielder's choice.  
 
UIC answered back in the bottom half of the inning with a pair of runs on three hits to trim the Titans lead to 3-2.
 
Detroit then picked up right where it left off in the first inning with six runs on four hits, including a two run homer from Christa McGahuey, her team leading seventh of the season, to give the Titans a 9-2 lead.
 
The Flames responded with two more runs in the bottom of the second on a two run homer from Heely to make the score 9-4.
 
Hoffman came into the game in the top of the third and pitched five innings - three scoreless - scattering four hits while striking out two.
 
UIC began its late comeback in the fifth inning with one run on one hit and one Titan error, before adding another run in the sixth inning on a sacrifice fly to make the score 9-6 heading into the seventh.
 
McGahuey finished the day 3-for-4 at the plate with three RBI and two runs scored, while Steffel and Karyn McCarty both finished 2-for-3 with two RBI. Junior Kayla Kostich finished the day 2-for-5 with one RBI and one run scored to extend her hitting streak to 10 straight-games.
 
The Titans will continue Horizon League play as they host Green Bay on April 24 for a doubleheader at Buysse Ballpark. First pitch is scheduled for 2:00 p.m.