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DETROIT (4/18/17) – Freshman Liz Murphy fired a complete game shutout in game one, but the University of Detroit Mercy softball team settled for a split against Oakland as the Golden Grizzlies edged the Titans in game two of Horizon League action from Buysse Ballpark on Tuesday afternoon.
 
Behind Murphy's strong performance, the Titans took the opener against the Golden Grizzlies with a 2-0 victory. Oakland would go on to score a run in the first and seventh innings of game two and spoil the Titans' hopes of a doubleheader sweep with a 2-1 win over Detroit Mercy in the nightcap.
 
Senior Laura Villagrana led the Titans offensively with three hits on the day. Villagrana went 2-for-3 with two doubles, a run and RBI in game one and followed with a hit and run in game two.
 
Sophomore Jordan Manno picked up a hit in each game and finished the day 2-for-6 with one RBI.
 
Murphy tallied the win in the opener after scattering six hits in seven innings of shutout ball. The rookie was sharp in the circle, consistently working ahead in the count and striking out five without conceding a walk.
 
With the split, the Titans move to 7-4 in conference play while Oakland goes to 10-7. The rubber match of the series is set for Wednesday at 12 p.m. from Buysse Ballpark. The Titans will have the fourth athletic luncheon of the year during the contest, with free hotdogs and snacks for fans in attendance.
 
GAME ONE: DETROIT MERCY 2 – OAKLAND 0
The Titans got off to a strong start behind Murphy as the rookie allowed just two base runners through the first four innings of the game.
 
Detroit Mercy went quietly in the first two innings before a pitch hit Cheyenne Willeford with one out in the third. Villagrana smoked a double to left center to plate Willeford and Villagrana came around to score on a RBI single up the middle off the bat of Manno, putting the Titans ahead 2-0 after three.
 
The Golden Grizzlies threatened in the fifth inning as a pair of runners reached base on a pair of infield singles, but Murphy stood up to the challenge and recorded a pair of strikeouts to end the frame.
 
Oakland tried to rally again in the seventh, but Murphy was up to the task as she worked around a leadoff double to shut down the Grizzlies and pick up the complete game win.
 
GAME TWO: OAKLAND 2 – DETROIT MERCY 1
The Golden Grizzlies struck first after manufacturing a run in the top of the first of game two. Lyndsay Hill led off with a single and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt. Hill made it to third after a fielder's choice and would score on a seeing-eye single through the right side to put Oakland up 1-0.
 
Detroit Mercy went quietly in the first three innings, but broke through in the fourth to tie the game at 1-1. Villagrana led off with a single and advanced to third on a hit by Manno, before Courtney Gilbert walked to load the bases with no outs. Junior Savvy Ferstle picked up a RBI on a fielder's choice, but the Titans would get no further after three pop-ups to the left side of the infield stranded the bases loaded.
 
The Titans and Golden Grizzlies went scoreless into the seventh inning, before Oakland scratched a run across as the visitors loaded the bases on two infield hits and an error. Squires broke the tie with a bouncing ball up the middle that put Oakland up 2-1 heading to the bottom of the seventh.
 
Willeford singled with one out in the seventh and reached third base with two outs, but a pop-up would end the game and give Oakland the win.
 
Sophomore Ashley Mauser was sharp in the circle but received the hard-luck loss after allowing two runs on eight hits, no walks and three punch-outs across seven innings of work.
 
ON DECK
The Titans and Golden Grizzlies return to Buysse Ballpark tomorrow at 12 p.m. for the rubber match of the series. Following tomorrow's game, the Titans continue the home stand as Horizon League foe Valparaiso invades the Motor City on Friday and Saturday, April 21-22.