MADEIRA BEACH, Fla. (2/25/17) – The University of Detroit Mercy softball team fell in a pair of close contests on day two of the Madeira Beach Invitational from the Sunshine State.
 
Despite the warm weather, the Titan bats cooled off as the team fell victim to late defeats in each game on Saturday. Army scored three in the sixth to take the opener, 4-2, before Albany topped the Titans, 3-2, with a run in the bottom of the seventh.
 
Sophomore Jordan Manno and newcomer Courtney Gilbert each reached base four times on the day. Manno went 3-for-6 with a walk, steal and run scored, while Gilbert added a 3-for-5 performance from the plate with a walk, RBI and run scored.
 
The Titans fall to 3-6 with the defeats. With the win, Army improved to 4-4 and Albany moved to 3-0.
 
GAME ONE: ARMY 4 – DETROIT MERCY 2
The Titans got off to a hot start with a pair of runs in the bottom of the first. Senior Alyssa James smoked a double to center field to plate classmate Cheyenne Willeford from second base. Gilbert lined one up the middle to bring around James and push Detroit Mercy's lead to 2-0 after one.
 
Freshman Liz Murphy retired the first eight batters of the game before back-to-back hits put Army runners on the corners with two outs in the third. Murphy induced a harmless groundout to shortstop to escape the inning.
 
 The Black Knights pushed a run across in the fifth to cut Detroit Mercy's lead in half, 2-1. The Titans went quiet in the bottom of the frame, before Army capitalized on a pair of Titan errors in the top of the sixth to surge ahead, 4-2.
 
The Titans would rally in the seventh as Kara Vitale, Manno and Willeford all singled to load the bases with one out. The rally would come up short after a strikeout and groundout ended the game with the tying run in scoring position.
 
Murphy was saddled with the loss after allowing four runs (one earned) over seven innings of work. She scattered seven hits while striking out two and walking one.
 
Detroit Mercy out-hit Army 8-7, with Manno, James and Gilbet all recording multiple base knocks. James filled the stat sheet with two hits, a double, RBI, run scored and two stolen bases.
 
GAME TWO: ALBANY 3 – DETROIT MERCY 2
The Titans struck early again in the nightcap with a run in the top of the first. Manno took advantage of an error to get on base before a steal put her in scoring position. A fielder's choice allowed her to reach third and a RBI ground out from Savvy Ferstle gave the Titans a 1-0 lead after the first half inning.
 
Albany answered in the bottom of the first on back-to-back hits and a groundout, leveling the score at 1-1.
 
Both offenses were quiet through the middle innings of the game. Albany was able to scratch a run across in the third for a 2-1 lead over Detroit Mercy and the lead would hold until a Titan rally in the seventh.
 
Gilbert singled to lead off the top of the seventh and Edrienne Williams put runners on the corners with a single to right. Vitale pushed the tying run across with a sacrifice fly to right field, but Albany escaped the jam after a strikeout and groundout.
 
The Great Danes led off the bottom of the frame with a single and walk, then advanced the runners with on a sacrifice bunt. A fielder's choice would give Albany the walk-off 3-2 win.
 
Sophomore Ashley Mauser received a no decision after five solid innings of work. Mauser scattered seven hits while allowing two runs and striking out two.
 
Murphy suffered the defeat after allowing a run on two hits in 1.1 innings of relief.
 
ON DECK
Detroit Mercy will look to end their stay in Florida with a win against in-state foe Eastern Michigan on Sunday morning. First pitch is scheduled for 11:30 a.m.