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DETROIT (4/8/17) – Sophomore Jordan Manno and freshman Ellie Boteler launched home runs in a four-run sixth that lifted the University of Detroit Mercy softball team to a doubleheader split against Northern Kentucky in Horizon League action from Buysse Ballpark on Saturday afternoon.
 
After dropping the opener, 6-2, the Titans held a 2-1 lead through much of the game before the Norse surged ahead with a run in the fifth and three more in the top of the sixth. Manno led off the bottom of the sixth with a solo blast to right center and Boteler capped the comeback with a towering two-run shot to left that put the Titans ahead, 6-5.
 
Boteler's go-ahead home run was the first hit of the rookie's career.
 
Four Titans picked up multiple hits on the day, led by sophomore Courtney Gilbert who went 4-for-7 with a double, triple, run scored and two RBI.
 
Junior Savvy Ferstle went 1-for-3 in each game, extending her hitting streak to nine games. Senior Cheyenne Willeford went 2-for-5 on the day with two runs scored, while classmate Laura Villagrana went 2-for-6 with a pair of runs scored.
 
Sophomore Ashley Mauser picked up the win in game two after allowing five runs (two earned) on nine hits and five strikeouts in a complete game performance.
 
With the split, Detroit Mercy moves to 4-4 in conference action, while NKU falls to 3-5. The Titans will look for the series win on Sunday, with game three of the set slated for an 11 a.m. first pitch from Buysse Ballpark.
 
GAME ONE: NKU 6 – DETROIT MERCY 2
The Norse took control of the game early as the Titans defense made a few sloppy plays. NKU pushed five runs across in the top of the second, capped by a three-run blast from Meter.
 
After a few scoreless frames, Northern Kentucky tacked on another run on a solo homer by Maher in the fifth.
 
Detroit Mercy threatened in the sixth as the Titans loaded the bases with no outs, but a pair of pop-ups and a strikeout allowed NKU to escape the jam.
 
The Titans rallied again in the seventh as Willeford and Villagrana picked up hits and came around to score, but Detroit Mercy ran out of outs and fell, 6-2.
 
Freshman Liz Murphy took the loss after allowing six runs on seven hits and three walks in four innings of work. Boteler came on in relief and threw a pair of scoreless frames before rookie Cami Sinclair came on for a clean seventh inning.
 
GAME TWO: DETROIT MERCY 6 – NKU 5
NKU struck in the top of the first with a homer from Devlin to go up 1-0. After a pair of scoreless frames, the Titans took the lead as Willeford and Villagrana reached base and advanced into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt from Manno. Gilbert doubled to left to pick up a pair of RBIs and give Detroit Mercy a 2-1 lead after three.
 
Mauser worked out of bases loaded jams in the third and fourth innings without conceding a run, but the Norse were able to break through with a run in the fifth to tie the game at 2-2.
 
A Titan error in the sixth extended the inning and allowed the visitors to push three runs across as the Norse surged ahead, 5-2.
 
Undeterred, Manno led off the bottom of the sixth with an emphatic homer over the right center fence to spark a rally. Gilbert followed with a double before Alyssa James singled through the right side to pull the Titans within one at 5-4. Boteler followed with what would be the game-winning home run, a two-run blast that put the Titans ahead for good, 6-5.
 
ON DECK
The Titans and Norse wrap up the series with game three on Sunday at 11 a.m. from Buysse Ballpark.