DETROIT (4/16/16) – The University of Detroit Mercy softball team found itself in a hole in both ends of a doubleheader against Green Bay on Saturday afternoon and despite valiant comeback efforts in each, dropped both games against the Phoenix from Buysse Ballpark.
The visitors broke a scoreless affair in the opener with a run in the fourth and four more in the fifth before hanging on for a 5-3 win. In the nightcap, the Phoenix jumped ahead early with a three run first inning and after a Detroit rally to tie the game, 4-4, Green Bay smacked two solo homers in the top of the seventh to win 6-4.
In game one, freshman
Ashley Mauser cruised through the first three innings while facing one over the minimum on an infield single. Green Bay's Acacia Tupa opened the scoring in the fourth, however, with a solo homer just over the centerfield wall.
The Phoenix broke open the game with four runs in the fifth on a pair of infield hits and a crucial error to surge ahead 5-0.
The Titans got one back with a solo homerun from freshman
Jordan Manno in the sixth, before Detroit rallied in the seventh.
Jennifer Cottle drew a walk to lead off the inning and
Katy Severson ripped a double down the left field line to put a pair of runners in scoring position. Cottle scored on a RBI groundout from
Kara Vitale and Severson tacked on another after crossing the plate on a fielding error.
Manno singled to put the tying run on first base, but a foul out to the third baseman ended the threat and gave Green Bay the 5-3 win.
Manno and Severson each picked up two hits in game one, with Manno going 2-for-3 with a homer and Severson's 2-for-3 game with a run scored. The long ball was the first of Manno's collegiate career.
Mauser was tagged with the loss after allowing five runs (three earned) in 4.2 innings pitched. Mauser gave way to
Keaira Schilling, who tossed 2.1 scoreless innings in relief to keep the Titans in the game.
In the nightcap, reigning Horizon League Pitcher of the Week
Alexis Robison-Kohrs got off to a rocky start after allowing three runs in the top of the first. The Phoenix took advantage of a pair of walks and two doubles to jump ahead early.
Green Bay added a run in the second on a solo blast from Hutchinson, but the Titans answered in the bottom of the frame.
Cottle and Severson singled to lead off the inning and advanced into scoring position on a bunt single from Vitale. Cottle would score on a Green bay error to make the score 4-1 with the bases loaded, but a foul out ended the inning and stranded three Titans on base.
With two outs in the bottom of the third, three straight hits from Cottle, Severson and Vitale cut Green Bay's lead to two at 4-2.
The Titans evened things in the fourth as senior
Christa McGahuey brought a runner home with a single to left and junior
Alyssa James recorded a sacrifice fly.
Schilling again pitched an outstanding game in relief, with 3.1 scoreless innings to keep the Phoenix at bay.
The game remained tied 4-4 heading to the seventh, before the Phoenix stole the game from Detroit. Taylor led off the seventh by sending a liner off a 3-2 pitch over the left field wall and Engel smacked the next offering over the wall as well, giving Green Bay back-to-back solo shots to chase Schilling.
The Titans' last chance came in the bottom of the frame and James and Cottle reached base safely to bring the go-ahead run to the plate with no outs. A fielder's choice and foul out took Detroit to its final out, where
Arriana Acuna pinch-hit and smoked a ball to centerfield. The Phoenix escaped with the 6-4 win, however, after a spectacular diving catch on the warning track.
Four Titans recorded multiple hits in the game as Detroit outhit the Phoenix 12-10.
Cottle went 2-for-3 with a pair of runs scored, while Vitale went 2-for-4 with a RBI. Junior
Laura Villagrana was 2-for-3 with a walk and Severson went 2-for-4 to round out the top hitters for UDM.
With the losses, Detroit falls to 11-30 on the spring and 3-8 in Horizon League play. The Phoenix, meanwhile, improve to 12-23 and 3-4 in league action.
The Titans and Phoenix wrap up the series tomorrow at 12 p.m. from Buysse Ballpark.
