Softball Sweeps Detroit in Record-Setting Fashion

Box scores: Game 1. Game 2.

YPSILANTI, Mich. – The Eastern Michigan softball team swept a visiting Detroit team in the Eagles’ home opener here Wednesday at Varsity Field. EMU was on the winning end of a 3-2 pitcher’s dual in game one, and a 14-9 record-setting slugfest in the nightcap. The Eagles have now won six consecutive games.

With the sweep EMU improves to 12-15, while the Titans fall to 2-14.

In the first game, senior pitcher Nikki Denman (Toledo, Ohio-Sylvania Southview) allowed just two hits in seven innings of work. She recorded three strikeouts in her third straight win, to move to 5-4 on the season.

Detroit’s Brittney Hire was equally impressive in the loss, allowing three hits in the contest, but falls to 0-6 on the year.

A mixture of three walks and two Eagle errors led to two Titan runs in the sixth inning. EMU responded in the bottom half of the inning after back-to-back errors and a walk loaded the bases. A two-out single by Denman brought in all three base runners after a throwing error by the centerfielder, giving Eastern a 3-2 advantage.

In the second game, the Eagles won the home run derby by smacking five total round trippers to the Titans two. The five home runs tie an EMU single-game record. The Eagle also hit five out of the park against Detroit, April, 6, 2004, in a 12-0 route. The Green and White also socked eight extra base hits in today’s second contest, tying the record also set against the Titans. The 14 runs batted in also ties a school record.

Five Eagles had multi-hit games with sophomore first baseman Ashley Strauss (Trenton, Mich.-Trenton) batting a perfect 3-for-3. She also hit her second home run of the season and knocked in three runs.

Sophomore outfielder Stephanie Sabo (Allen Park, Mich.-Cabrini) hit her first career home run, going 2-for-3 with three RBI. Junior outfielder Lindsay Schmid (Madison, Ohio-Madison) finished the game 2-for-3 with two RBI and a home run. Freshman third baseman Heather Han (Lafayette, Ind.-McCutcheon) blasted her second homer of the season, a three-run shot.

Junior shortstop Lauren Clark (Flat Rock, Mich.-New Boston Huron) blasted her eighth home run this season to deep right field. She finished the game 3-for-4 with three RBI. She now sits just two round trippers behind the single-season home run record held by Melissa Drouillard who hit 10 in 1996 and teammate Nikki Denman who tied the record in 2004. Clark has put 14 over the fence in her career and is five behind Drouillard for the EMU career home run record of 19.

The Eagles fell behind early after a five run Titan second. EMU responded with a five-run inning of its own in the third, sparked by homers by Sabo and Schmid, tying the game at 5-5.

A Titan home run highlighted a two-run fourth, putting Detroit back ahead, 7-5. The Eagles went back on top, 9-7, after two two-run home runs by Strauss and Clark. Eastern had its second five-run frame in the fifth sparked by a three-run homer by Han, putting the Eagles ahead 14-7. Detroit would add two more runs in the sixth to wrap up the scoring in the nightcap.

The Eagles continue their six-game homestand when they open Mid-American Conference play Friday, March 31, with a double header against Western Michigan. EMU will then play by back-to-back games with Northern Illinois, April 1-2. The Saturday, April 1, contest with the Huskies will be Family Day for EMU softball, with parents and players being recognized before the 2 p.m. game.

Eastern Michigan Athletics

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