CLEVELAND, Ohio (4/26/17) – Sophomore
Courtney Gilbert blasted a pair of home runs as the University of Detroit Mercy softball team completed a three-game sweep over Cleveland State on the road in Horizon League action from Viking Field on Wednesday afternoon.
The Titans, who won the opener over the Vikings on Tuesday, picked up a 4-2 win in game two of the series on Wednesday and capped the road trip off with a 5-2 win in the game three.
Gilbert accounted for all four of Detroit Mercy's runs in the opener with a grand slam in the top of the third and sophomore
Ashley Mauser picked up the win after allowing two runs (one earned) in 6.1 innings of work.
In the nightcap, Detroit Mercy picked up 11 hits in front of a strong performance from freshman
Liz Murphy and pulled away late despite a Viking rally to pick up the win.
Gilbert had a monster day from the plate, going 4-for-7 with a pair of home runs, five RBI, a double and a walk. Senior
Cheyenne Willeford was a terror from the plate as well after picking up five hits in six at-bats with a double and two runs scored.
Sophomore
Jordan Manno picked up a hit in each game to extend her hitting streak to 11 and reached-base streak to 23. Manno was 2-for-6 on the day with a triple, run scored, RBI and a walk.
Murphy came on in relief of game one to shut the door and pick up her second save of the season, before recording the complete game win in game two.
The Titans improve to 12-7 in the Horizon League with the wins, just one shy of the program record of 13 set by the 2006 squad.
GAME ONE: DETROIT MERCY 4 – CLEVELAND ST. 2
Trailing 1-0 in the top of the third, Gilbert smacked a 1-0 offering over the left field fence for a grand slam that put the Titans ahead, 4-1.
Cleveland State mounted a comeback in the bottom of the seventh after a pair of hits and a RBI groundout cut the Titan lead to 4-2. Murphy stepped in from the bullpen and escaped a bases-loaded jam with two outs to pick up the save and preserve the win for Detroit Mercy.
Mauser earned her third win of the year after allowing two runs (one earned) while scattering 10 hits and inducing 11 groundouts in 6.1 innings of work.
Gilbert went 2-for-4 with a double and home run to lead the offense, which picked up nine hits in the win.
GAME TWO: DETROIT MERCY 5 – CLEVELAND ST. 3
The Titans struck first in the top of the third after Willeford doubled to lead off the inning and advanced to scoring position on a single by
Laura Villagrana. Junior
Savvy Ferstle sent a rocket up the middle for the RBI to give the Titans the early 1-0 lead.
Manno smoked a RBI triple and came around to score and push the Titan lead to 3-0 in the top of the fifth.
Murphy was excellent in the circle for the Titans as the rookie took a perfect game into the bottom of the sixth. The Vikings broke up Murphy's no-hit bid with an infield single to lead off the frame and Cleveland State manufactured a pair of runs on a pair of infield hits.
Gilbert hit her second homer of the afternoon to add an insurance run for Detroit Mercy in the top of the seventh and the Vikings again rallied to scratch a run across and load the bases with two outs, but Murphy stood tall and recorded the final out of the game to give the Titans the victory.
Detroit Mercy picked up 11 hits in the win, with four going for extra bases.
Murphy was brilliant in the circle for the Titans, tossing just 59 pitches in the complete game win.
ON DECK
The Titans return to action next week at Green Bay after the teams rescheduled their canceled games from earlier in the season. The doubleheader will start at 1 p.m. EST from Green Bay, Wis.
