CHICAGO (3/26/16) – The University of Detroit Mercy softball team dropped a pair on the road to UIC on Saturday afternoon from Flames Field in Chicago.
The Flames (17-10, 3-0 HL) slowly pulled away and picked up a 5-1 win in the opener, before jumping on the Titans (6-24, 0-3 HL) early in the second and cruising to an 8-1 win. The wins gave UIC a series sweep over Detroit after the Flames picked up a win on Friday.
GAME ONE: UIC 5 – Detroit 1Freshman pitcher
Ashley Mauser took to the circle and set the tone for the game as she faced the minimum through the first two innings.
A hit batter and a walk loaded the bases and sparked a Flames rally in the third and with two outs, UIC snaked a ball through the middle of the infield to plate two runs and take a 2-0 lead.
The Flames tacked on a run in the fifth before the Titans rallied in the top of the sixth.
Laura Villagrana singled and came around to score on a sacrifice fly from
Alyssa James, but the threat was ended on a liner to right field.
UIC added a pair of runs in the bottom of the sixth and Detroit went quietly in the seventh as the Flames picked up the 5-1 win.
Villagrana and
Cheyenne Willeford each picked up a hit for the Titans, with
Jordan Manno picking up a stolen base and James adding a RBI.
Mauser was tagged with the loss after allowing five runs in five innings on seven hits and three strikeouts. Junior
Keaira Schilling came on in relief and tossed one scoreless inning.
GAME TWO: UIC 8 – Detroit 1A pair of Detroit errors allowed the Flames to strike first in the nightcap with two runs in the second inning. UIC added two more in the third and three in the fifth to surge ahead, 7-0 after five.
Singles by Villagrana,
Christa McGahuey and James cut into the Flames lead by pushing a run across in the top of the sixth, but UIC added a homer in the bottom half of the frame.
Detroit loaded the bases in the top of the seventh, but the threat was ended on a sharp line drive to third base.
Willeford went 1-for-3 with a walk and stolen base to lead the offense as five different Titans picked up hits. Villagrana went 1-for-3 with a run scored and James went 1-for-3 with a RBI.
Junior
Alexis Robison-Kohrs got the start and allowed seven runs (five earned) on 10 hits in five innings of work. Schilling again appeared in relief and allowed one run on two hits in one inning.
ON DECKDetroit returns to non-conference action Tuesday at Eastern Michigan. First pitch of the doubleheader is scheduled for 1 p.m. from Ypsilanti, Mich.
