CLINTON, S.C. (2/19/2022) -- The University of Detroit Mercy softball team finally hit the diamond, but the offense was a bit stagnant after a year off as the Titans dropped a pair of 5-1 games to NC Central and Appalachian State on Saturday.

The games were neutral-site contests at the Presbyterian Invite in Clinton, South Carolina. 

Senior Piper Roth had two hits in game two, while junior Renee Trotman and freshman Jaiden Lara each had two hits on the day, the first two of Lara's career. Graduate senior Leena Mortensen recorded the RBI in game one, while Roth knocked in the lone Titan score in game two.

The red, white and blue will be back in action tomorrow as the Titans play Appalachian State again at 10:00 a.m. and the host Blue Hose at 12:15 p.m. 

Game 1 vs. NC Central

• Senior McKenna Tanguay started the season with a single to left and then stole second base
• Lara then hit into a fielder's choice and was at first base when Mortensen lined a RBI single down the left-field line for a 1-0 lead
• NC Central tied the game in the second and took a 2-1 lead in the third
• The Titans had runners on in the third and fourth and didn't score
• In the fifth, NC Central plated three runs for a 5-1 lead
• The Titans tried to mount a comeback in the seventh with two outs as senior Taryn Peru singled and junior Allison Smith walked, but they could not get home
• Graduate senior Liz Murphy went the distance striking out five in six innings of work 

Game Two vs. Appalachian State

• App State did most of its damage in the top of the first scoring four runs
• The Titans had a runner on in the first, second and third, but could not get on the board
• In the fifth, Trotman led off the frame with a walk and then junior Kara Wolfbauer pinch ran, reaching second on a wild pitch
• She later reached third on a ground out and then Tanguay walked, putting runners on the corner
• Roth then laid down a bunt, scoring Wolfbauer and putting runners on first and second before Lara worked a walk to load the bases, but a base running decision ended the rally
• The Tigers scored to make it 5-1 in the fifth
• In the bottom of the seventh, sophomore Maddy Heilner had a pinch-hit single and senior Liz Paver was hit by the pitch, putting runners on first and second with one out
• The bases were then loaded for Lara, but she got underneath one popping it up to short to end the contest
• Roth ended the game 2-for-4 with the RBI
• Heilner was 1-for-1, while Trotman and Lara each had a hit
• Junior Olivia Warrington pitched seven innings and had a career-high seven strikeouts