ROSEMONT, Ill. (2/10/17) – The University of Detroit Mercy softball team kicked off the 2017 season on Friday at the Total Control Sports Invitational with a pair of tight losses.
The Titans jumped out to an early lead against Butler, but couldn't hold off the Bulldogs as they came back to edge Detroit Mercy, 9-8, in the opener. Eastern Illinois spoiled the Titans' plans for a win in the nightcap, pulling away late for a 6-2 win.
Newcomer
Courtney Gilbert had a terrific debut for the Titans, reaching base five times on the day. Gilbert went 2-for-4 with three walks, two RBI and a run scored.
The bats were clicking on day one of the season, with five Titans recording multiple hits.
Savvy Ferstle and
Alyssa James each went 3-for-7,
Jordan Manno was 3-for-8 and
Sydney Pollock joined Gilbert with a pair of hits.
Ferstle and Manno each scored a pair of runs, while Gilbert and James added two RBI apiece to lead the Titan offense.
Butler 9 - Detroit Mercy 8
The Titans landed the first punch with four runs in the bottom of the first, highlighted by a two-RBI single by James. Detroit Mercy added a run in the third to go ahead 5-0, before Butler made a comeback.
After cruising through the first three innings of scoreless ball,
Ashley Mauser ran into a little trouble in the fourth as the Bulldogs crept within one with four runs.
The Titans tacked on a run in the bottom of the fourth, but Butler took advantage of an error to score four runs in the fifth and charge ahead, 8-6.
Unfazed, Detroit Mercy responded with a pair of runs in the fifth to even the score at 8-8. But the Bulldogs had an answer with a run in the sixth.
Cami Sinclair made her debut from the circle and pitched a 1-2-3 seventh to give the Titans a chance, but the rally was ended in the seventh and Butler escaped with the 9-8 win.
Despite the loss, the Titans out-hit Butler 14-11 and racked up three steals.
Eastern Ill. 6 – Detroit Mercy 2
The Panthers jumped ahead with two runs in the top of the first, but Detroit Mercy evened the score with a run in each of the first two innings.
The score would remain locked at 2-2 as both pitchers settled in. Freshman
Liz Murphy held Eastern Illinois to two hits over the next four scoreless innings, but was finally gotten to for the go-ahead score in the top of the sixth.
Eastern Illinois would add on two insurance runs in the top of the seventh as the Titan bats went quiet down the stretch.
The Panthers out-hit Detroit Mercy 11-2, with seven of the hits coming in the first and last innings.
ON DECK
The Titans are back in action on day two of the tournament tomorrow. Detroit Mercy will face Fort Wayne at 3 p.m. and Loyola Chicago at 8 p.m.
