ARLINGTON, Tex. (2/13/16) – The University of Detroit Mercy softball team returned to action at the UT Arlington Tournament and suffered a pair of close losses to Texas Southern and Northern Colorado on Saturday morning.
 
In game one, Detroit fell on the wrong side of a pitchers duel and dropped a 3-1 decision to TSU. The Titans came out firing in game two and surged ahead, 3-0, before NCU clawed back and edged Detroit, 5-4.
 
GAME ONE VS. TEXAS SOUTHERN 
The Titans played a clean game behind junior Alexis Robison-Kohrs in the circle as both offenses were held in check through the first three innings.
 
TSU struck first in the fourth with a pair of runs, before Detroit responded with a run in the fifth. Texas Southern added another run in the sixth to increase the lead to 3-1.
 
The Titans mounted a rally in the bottom of the sixth as Laura Villagrana and Savvy Ferstle reached on back-to-back hits with one out. Christa McGahuey reached on a fielder's choice to load the bases, but the Tigers escaped the jam with the 3-1 lead intact.
 
Villagrana led Detroit with a perfect 3-for-3 day at the plate, while Jordan Manno went 1-for-3 with a run scored.
 
Robison-Kohrs was tagged with the loss after allowing three runs on eight hits in 5.0 innings pitched. Junior Keaira Schilling appeared in relief and tossed two scoreless innings with a hit and two strikeouts.
 
GAME TWO VS. NORTHERN COLORADO
Villagrana doubled and scored to give the Titans a 1-0 lead in the first inning. Detroit loaded the bases and scored two runs on a sacrifice fly by Jennifer Cottle and a RBI single from Ferstle in the second frame to take the 3-0 lead.
 
Northern Colorado scored a pair of runs to creep within one at 3-2 in the bottom of the third.
 
Detroit threatened to increase the lead in the top of the fifth as a two-out rally put Jenna Reeves and Alyssa James on second and third, but the Bears escaped the jam to stay within one.
 
Nothern Colorado took advantage of an error in the bottom of the fifth and plated three runs, two of which were unearned, to take their first lead of the game at 5-3.
 
Kristen Garceau led off the sixth with an infield single and advanced to third on a pair of groundouts, before Manno recorded a RBI groundout to pull Detroit within one at 5-4.
 
The Titans had one last chance to extend the game in the top of the seventh, but could not complete the comeback as the bats went down silently.
 
Garceau led Detroit offensively with two hits in three at bats, with two runs scored. Reeves, James, Ferstle and Villagrana all added hits in the defeat.
 
With the loss, the Titans fall to 1-3 on the young season. Meanwhile, NCU improved to 2-1 after the comeback victory.

McGahuey was saddled with the loss after allowing four runs (three earned) in 4.1 innings pitched. She gave up three hits and three walks, while striking out four. Schilling finished out the game for the Titans and allowed one unearned run in 1.2 innings while striking out three.
 
ON TAP
Detroit wraps up their time in Texas on Sunday, Feb. 14 against UT Arlington at 11 a.m. Detroit fell to the Mavs, 11-1, on Friday.