VALPARAISO, Ind. (4/23/16) – Senior Christa McGahuey smacked two homers to tie the University of Detroit Mercy program career homerun record and propel the Titans to a doubleheader split and series win at Valparaiso University on Saturday afternoon from VU Softball Field.
 
McGahuey's homeruns – her sixth and seventh of the season – both came in game one of the doubleheader. The two blasts give her 26 for her career, which is tied for the most in school history with Kaleigh Rafter.
 
The Titans broke open a close one in the opener with seven runs over the sixth and seventh innings and despite giving up a five-run seventh to the host Crusaders, held on to pick up a 9-6 win.
 
Valparaiso was able to salvage the split and prevent a Detroit sweep by taking the nightcap by a 9-1 decision in five innings.
 
With the series win, Detroit improves to 15-33 overall and 7-11 in the Horizon League.
 
GAME ONE: DETROIT 9 – VALPARAISO 6
 
Four straight walks pushed a run across in the second to give Detroit a 1-0 lead.
 
Valpo tied the game in the bottom of the second on a solo homer over the left field wall, before the Titans answered with some small ball to go back ahead, 2-1 in the top of the third.
 
After a pair of scoreless frames, McGahuey launched a two-run homer to left to push the Titans ahead, 4-1.
 
McGahuey tied the Detroit homerun record in style with a grand slam to left center in the top of the seventh, capping a five-run inning that pushed Detroit's lead to eight.
 
The Crusaders took advantage of an error and five hits to plate five runs in the bottom of the seventh, but the Titans lead was too much as Detroit held on for the 9-6 win.
 
McGahuey finished the game with six RBI on two dingers.
 
Six different Titans scored a run in the game. Detroit managed just four hits, but their patience at the plate resulted in nine walks.
 
Junior Keaira Schilling picked up her second win of the season after 3.1 innings in relief.
 
GAME TWO: VALPARAISO 9 - DETROIT 1
 
Trailing 2-0 in the series, Valparaiso wasted little time avenging the losses with a pair of runs in both the second and third innings.
 
The Titans answered with a run in the top of the fourth on a sacrifice fly by McGahuey, but stranded three runners to head to the bottom of the fourth trailing 4-1.  Jordan Manno and Alyssa James got the inning going with back-to-back singles and after the sacrifice fly, Katy Severson and Grace Schmeiser walked to load the bases.
 
Valparaiso was able to escape the jam before a four-run outburst in the bottom of the frame ballooned their lead to 8-1. The Crusaders would go on to score a run in the fifth to end the game in five innings.
 
Manno led the offense after going 1-for-3 with a run, while junior Laura Villagrana went 1-for-3 and junior Alyssa James was 1-for-2 with a double.
 
The Titan pitching staff gave up an uncharacteristic nine runs in the game. Freshman Ashley Mauser was saddled with the loss after allowing four runs in three innings on six hits.
 
ON DECK
Detroit returns to nonconference action with a doubleheader against St. Bonaventure on Wednesday, April 27. The Titans and Bonnies are slated for a 3 p.m. first pitch from Buysse Ballpark.