DETROIT (4/21/17) – The University of Detroit Mercy softball team dropped the opener of a three-game set to Valparaiso, 9-3, on a gloomy Friday afternoon of Horizon League action from Buysse Ballpark.
 
Despite the Titans holding an 8-6 edge in hits, the Crusaders were able to plate nine runs thanks to a trio of Titan errors and seven free passes.
 
Valpo scored a run in the first and added another in the second to take a 2-0 lead after two innings. Detroit Mercy led off the bottom of the fourth with four straight hits to cut the lead to 2-1, but a double play and a ground out ended the threat with runners in scoring position.
 
The Crusaders capitalized on the momentum shift in the top of the fifth with five runs on four hits. Lanie Callghan capped the inning with a grand slam to right center that pushed the Crusader lead to 7-1.
 
Junior Savvy Ferstle hit a towering two-run blast high over the left-center field fence to bring the Titans within four at 7-3, but Valparaiso added two more in the seventh as the Titan bats went down in order to give the visitors the 9-3 win.
 
Six different Titans picked up hits in the defeat, led by Ferstle who went 2-for-3 with a homer and two RBI. Sophomore Courtney Gilbert also went 2-for-3, while adding a double and a run scored.
 
Senior Alyssa James went 1-for-2 and added a RBI and a walk and sophomore Jordan Manno rounded out the top hitters after going 1-for-3 with a run scored.
 
Rookie Liz Murphy was saddled with the loss after allowing seven runs (five earned) on six hits and six strikeouts in six innings of work.
 
With the loss, the Titans fall to 8-6 in Horizon League action, while the Crusaders improve to 10-6 in conference play.
 
Detroit Mercy will look to bounce back tomorrow in the final two games of the series. First pitch of the doubleheader is slated for 12 p.m. from Buysse Ballpark, with game two following at approximately 2 p.m.