DETROIT (4/13/2018) -- The University of Detroit Mercy softball team split a pair of games with the visiting Green Bay Phoenix on Friday afternoon.
The Titans honored senior
Savvy Ferstle pregame to recognize her contributions to the program over the last four seasons.
On the day,
Courtney Gilbert had three hits, one run scored and an RBI,
Maddy Scarsella had one run scored, two hits and one RBI and
Jordan Manno had one hit and one run scored.
DETROIT MERCY 2 - GREEN BAY 1
The first game was a pitching duel that
Ashley Mauser would come out victorious in. She would pitch a complete game, going seven innings, tossing exactly 100 pitches, while scattering seven hits, one earned runs and six strikeouts.
The red, white and blue would strike first, when in the bottom of the third junior
Kori Keyes would ground a ball to third base and an error by the Phoenix third baseman would allow Scarsella to come around and score.
In the top of the sixth, the Phoenix would strike back. With bases loaded, Morgan Bihun would double into right center field.
Scarsella would alertly field the ball and fire into her cut off, who would then turn and fire the ball home, allowing Manno to apply the tag to the runner at the plate and limiting the damage to just one run.
Mauser would then get a ground ball to second base and get out of the jam, leaving the game tied at 1-1, headed into the bottom of the sixth.
The Titans would immediately help out Mauser, when Gilbert led off the sixth with a triple to the wall in center field. She would then be driven in by Scarsella, who hit a sharp double down the third base line, allowing the Titans to regain the lead, 2-1.
Mauser would head back to the mound in the top of the seventh, and finish off her complete game, earning a victory by a final score of 2-1.
DETROIT MERCY 1 - GREEN BAY 2
We would again see a pitching duel in game two of the doubleheader. Mauser would again get the start on the mound, but this time for the Phoenix it would be Kayla Schwebke.
In the top of the third inning, Green Bay would gain a 2-0 advantage courtesy of a two run home run to left center field.
Mauser would then hand the ball over to sophomore
Liz Murphy, who would commandeer the mound for the rest of the game, going 4.1 innings, while scattering two hits and striking out four.
In the bottom of the sixth, Manno would stripe a ball down the first base line and off the first baseman's shin, allowing her to score and put a runner on first with only one out.
After a fly out to center field, Ferstle would step into the batter's box and hit a single between shortstop and third base, putting runners on first and second.
Gilbert would then work the count full before singling into right field, scoring Manno and cutting the deficit to 2-1. However, with runners on first and second the Titans were unable to capitalize and still trailed headed into the seventh inning.
After Murphy got a 1-2-3 top of the seventh, the red, white and blue would have one last chance to complete the comeback.
Lindsay Brandon would lead the inning off with a walk, putting a runner on first base with no outs. Scarsella would then lay down a picture perfect bunt, allowing Brandon to advance into scoring position with only one out.
She would advance to third base on a wild pitch, but ultimately the Titans rally would come up short, as they were unable to drive home the tying run in the bottom of the seventh.
Mauser would be assessed the loss in game two, going 2.1 innings while scattering four hits and two earned runs, bringing her overall record to 6-14 on the season.
ON DECK
Up next for the Titans is their final home series of the season, as they will take on the visiting Cleveland State Vikings this Tuesday and Wednesday, 4/17-18.
