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DETROIT (4/26/14) – Junior Kayla Kostich extended her hitting streak to 14-straight games, but it wasn't enough as the University of Detroit Mercy softball team dropped its first two games of the weekend series against Cleveland State on Saturday. The Vikings won the first game 5-3, before taking the nightcap 9-0 at Buysse Ballpark.
 
Kostich finished the day with two hits – one in each game – to extend her hitting streak to 14 games. Over that stretch she is hitting .400 (20-for-50) with four RBI and seven runs scored. She has also improved her overall batting average by 44 points from .292 to .336.
 
In the first game, Cleveland State (23-15, 7-5) scored two runs in the top of the first inning capped by an RBI double down the left field line from Alyson Broschk.
 
Freshman Lauren Weldy then calmed down and pitched two scoreless innings while striking out four Vikings, including three-straight punch-outs in the second inning, to keep the Titans in the game.
 
Cleveland State was able to score two more run in the fourth inning, including a home run to right center from Erica McNew to build a 4-0 lead.
 
Detroit (5-38, 1-12) was able to get its first run of the game in the bottom of the fourth after Christa McGahuey singled on a slow tapper back to the pitcher and advanced to second on a throwing error, which brought home Julia Maksym all the way from first to make the score 4-1. The Titans had a few more chances in that inning but were called out on a pair of base running miscues.
 
The Vikings would regain a four run lead in the top of the fifth following a solo homer down the left field line from Cynthia Woodard that made the score 5-1.
 
The Titans then loaded the bases in the bottom of the seventh with no outs, before Katy Severson delivered a two run single to make the score 5-3. Following a Vikings pitching change the Titans still had runners on second and third with no outs, but were unable to find that timely hit as the game ended with a strikeout, fly-out and popup.
 
Weldy finished the game throwing seven innings with three earned runs and seven strikeouts for Detroit.   
 
In the nightcap, Cleveland State scored two runs in the third, three in the fourth and four in the fifth inning for a 9-0 win. Alex Radjen started for the Vikings and pitched five innings of two hit ball while striking out six Titans.
 
Both of Detroit's hits came in the first inning when Kostich and McGahuey both singled to left field.
 
The Titans will continue Horizon League play tomorrow when they conclude the three-game series with Cleveland State at Buysse Ballpark. The first pitch is scheduled for noon.