ROSEMONT, Ill. (2/11/17) – The University of Detroit Mercy softball team split a pair of games on day two of the Total Control Sports Invitational on Saturday.
 
The Titans were clicking on both sides of the ball in the opener as they earned a convincing 9-1 win over Fort Wayne. In contrast, the nightcap turned into a pitcher's duel as Detroit Mercy was edged by Loyola Chicago, 2-1.
 
With the split, the Titans move to 1-3 on the season. Detroit Mercy will wrap up play from the indoor tournament on Sunday morning against Western Illinois. First pitch is set for 10 a.m. EST.
 
 Detroit Mercy 9 – Fort Wayne 1
The Titans scored a run or more in the final six innings as they cruised to a 9-1 win over Fort Wayne. Detroit Mercy was held scoreless in the first inning, before reeling off 11 hits, including two home runs, three doubles and a triple. The Titans also recorded six steals in the contest.
 
Freshman Liz Murphy earned her first win after coming on in relief to toss five scoreless innings.
 
Sophomore Kara Vitale smacked her first career home run, while junior Savvy Ferstle picked up her first of the year and 11^th of her career.
 
Eight Titans picked up hits in the win, with Laura Villagrana, Grace Schmeiser and Cheyenne Willeford each recording two hits.
 
Ferstle led the offense with three RBI and two runs scored, while Willeford added two RBI.   
 
Loyola Chicago 2 – Detroit Mercy 1
Both defenses were sharp in the nightcap. After two scoreless frames to begin the game, the Ramblers scored two runs in the bottom of the third to go ahead, 2-0. Loyola would score no more as Murphy came in to throw three scoreless innings.
 
The Titans would push a run across in the fifth, but a line-out ended the inning with the go-ahead run stranded in scoring position. The Ramblers would play a clean sixth and seventh innings and hang on for the 2-1 win.
 
Three Titans recorded multiple hits in the defeat. Ferstle went 3-for-4 with a RBI to highlight the offense, while Schmeiser went 2-for-2 with a walk and sophomore Jordan Manno went 2-for-4 with a run scored from the leadoff spot.