CLEARWATER, Fla. (3/12/16) – The University of Detroit Mercy softball team dropped a pair to Butler and New Mexico State on Saturday morning in their final day from the USF Under Armour Showcase in Florida.
 
Detroit fell in a tight 3-1 pitcher's duel to Butler in the opener, before dropping the finale against New Mexico State, 10-0.
 
Freshman Ashley Mauser was dominant against the Bulldogs, holding Butler to two hits over the first four innings of game one.
 
The Titans broke the scoreless affair in the top of the fifth as four straight hitters reached safely. Kristen Garceau got the one-out rally started with an infield single, before a walk and hit by Alyssa James loaded the bases for Detroit. Savvy Ferstle was hit by a pitch to push a run across, before a strikeout and pop up ended the Titans' threat.
 
Mauser got into trouble in the bottom of the fifth as the Bulldogs loaded the bases with two outs. A fly ball off the bat of Dixon just escaped the gloves of the Detroit outfield and cleared the bases for a two-out, three-RBI triple. Mauser settled back in over the final two innings to keep Detroit in it, but the Titans could not complete the comeback and fell, 3-1.
 
Five Titans recorded hits in the loss, led by James' 2-for-4 performance at the plate. Ferstle went 1-for-1 with a RBI and a stolen base, while Garceau went 1-for-4 with a run scored.
 
Mauser was tagged with the loss after allowing three runs on six hits and three strikeouts in six innings pitched.
 
In the nightcap, the Aggies took an early lead with a two-run homer in the first and added six more in the second. A two-run third inning capped the scoring as Detroit was shutout by New Mexico State.
 
Ferstle went 2-for-2 from the plate, while Katy Severson went 1-for-2. Cheyenne Willeford recorded Detroit's fourth hit and finished 1-for-1.
 
Detroit returns to action Tuesday, Mar. 22 against Wisconsin. The doubleheader will begin at 12 p.m. from DePaul in Chicago, Ill.