CHARLESTON, S.C. (2/27/16) – The University of Detroit Mercy softball team opened the 2016 Wyndham Garden Cougar Classic with a split against Campbell University and the College of Charleston Saturday afternoon from South Carolina.
 
The Titans fell 11-9 in a thrilling back-and-forth affair that went to extras to Campbell in the opener, before bouncing back with a 5-2 win over Charleston in the nightcap. sto
 
With the split, Detroit moves to 2-9 on the season. The Titans are back in action Sunday against Radford and South Carolina State.
 
GAME ONE
The Titans led early and rallied to tie the game late, but were undone by a pair of Camel runs in the top of the eighth and fell 11-9 in the tournament opener to Campbell. 
 
Detroit took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first on a 2-RBI single by sophomore Savvy Ferstle, but the Camels answered with three runs in the top of the second. The Titans walked four and were tagged with an error in the inning.
 
Jordan Manno tied the game up in the bottom of the second with a two-out RBI double.
 
The Camels retook the lead with three runs on three hits in the top of the fourth, before Detroit responded with a run in the fifth. Campbell extended its lead to three with a run in the sixth, but the Titans stormed back with three runs in the bottom of the frame.
 
Senior Katy Severson delivered a bases-clearing 3-RBI double to left to knot the game up for Detroit.
 
The Camels added two runs in the top of the seventh, but Detroit answered once again. Manno and Ferstle delivered RBI doubles as the Titans scored the tying runs to send the game to extras.
 
Campbell scored two runs in the top of the eighth and the Detroit bats went silent in the frame as the Camels escaped with the 11-9 win.
 
Manno led the Titans with a 4-for-5 performance at the plate, with two runs and two RBI. Ferstle went 2-for-4 and added a run and three RBI, while Severson went 2-for-5 with three RBI.
 
The pitching staff was tagged for 11 runs, but only six were earned. Junior Alexis Robison-Kohrs was saddled with the loss after allowing five runs (one earned) in 4.1 innings pitched.
 
GAME TWO
In the nightcap, Detroit led wire-to-wire as freshman Ashley Mauser tossed a strong game and Robison-Kohrs sealed the victory. The Tians struck first with two in the first before Charleston tied it up in the fourth, but surged ahead with the game's final three runs to pick up the 5-2 win.
 
Jennifer Cottle delivered a RBI double in the top of the first to give Detroit the early lead, before Alyssa James singled to give UDM a 2-0 edge after one.
 
The Titans utilized a double steal to break a 2-2 tie in the fifth as Laura Villagrana and Manno stole second and home. Detroit added two in the top of the seventh and Keaira Schilling slammed the door to pick up her first save for UDM.
 
Manno scored three of Detroit's five runs, while Cottle drove in three as seven Titans picked up hits in the win.
 
Mauser gave up two runs over four innings, before Robison-Kohrs came in to pick up the win. Schilling added to the scoreless relief effort as she picked up her first save with Detroit.
 
ON DECK
The Titans return to action Sunday against Radford and South Carolina State. The first game is set for 1:30 p.m., before game two at 5:30 p.m.