CHARLESTON, S.C. (2/28/16) – The University of Detroit Mercy softball team recorded a pair of shutout victories to conclude the Wyndham Garden Cougar Classic Saturday afternoon from Charleston, South Carolina.
 
Behind a dazzling performance by freshman Ashley Mauser, the Titans picked up a 2-0 victory over Radford in the opener, before breaking out the bats in a run-rule 8-0 win over South Carolina State in the nightcap.
 
With the wins, Detroit improves to 4-9 on the season and runs their win streak to three games.
 
GAME ONE
Freshman Ashley Mauser was dominant from the circle, allowing just five base runners in a complete-game shutout.
 
Mauser received all the help she needed with an Alyssa James' RBI single in the fourth inning.
 
The Titans manufactured an insurance run in the seventh as James singled and a stolen base put Jenna Reeves in position to drive in Detroit's second run of the game.
 
Mauser worked out of her first real test of the game with runners on the corners and only one out, but calmly ended the threat with two harmless groundouts. She earned her first collegiate win after allowing five hits and zero runs across seven innings pitched.
 
James led the Titans with two hits in three at-bats, while adding a RBI. Reeves went 1-for-3 with a RBI in the win.
 
Detroit improved to 3-9 with the win, while Radford fell to 5-3.
 
GAME TWO
The Titans bats awoke in a big way in game two, pushing across eight runs in the first two innings as junior Alexis Robison-Kohrs and senior Christa McGahuey burned through the Bulldog lineup from the circle.
 
In the bottom of the first, Detroit reached three straight batters and plated a run before a two-RBI single by Katy Severson gave the Titans a 3-0 lead after one.
 
The Titans picked up where they left off in the bottom of the second, with five straight batters reaching before South Carolina State could record an out. A RBI double by Cheyenne Willeford gave Detroit a 4-0 lead, before a two-RBI triple by Jennifer Cottle pushed the Titan lead to 7-0. James increased the lead to 8-0 with an infield single to score Cottle.
 
Robison-Kohrs earned the win after starting the game and holding the Bulldogs scoreless over three innings. McGahuey appeared in relief and limited the opposition to two hits over two scoreless innings, with four strikeouts.
 
Cottle went 1-for-2 with two RBI and two runs scored, while Severson went 1-for-3 with two RBI. Willeford was a perfect 2-for-2 with a RBI and run scored, with junior Laura Villagrana rounding out the top offensive performers with a 2-for-3 day at the plate with a run scored.
 
Detroit cruised to the 8-0 victory in a shortened five-inning game. The win pushed the Titans win streak to three, as they sit at 4-9 overall on the season. Meanwhile, South Carolina State fell to 2-7 with the loss.
 
ON DECK
The Titans return to action Friday, Mar. 4 at the South Florida Tournament in Tampa, Florida. Detroit will play 11 games in the Sunshine State from Mar. 4 through Mar. 12.