MADEIRA BEACH, Fla. (2/26/17) – The University of Detroit Mercy broke a scoreless game with a run in the eighth inning, but host Eastern Michigan would push two runs across in the bottom of the frame to spoil the Titans' finale from the Madeira Beach Invitational, handing the squad a 5-4 loss on Sunday morning in the Sunshine State.
 
The Titans led for the majority of the game as juniors Savvy Ferstle and Edrienne Williams gave Detroit Mercy a 3-1 lead with solo homers in the third and fourth innings.
 
The Eagles tied the game at 3-3 with a pair of runs in the bottom of the fifth and both teams would go scoreless in the sixth and seventh to send the game to extra innings.
 
Detroit Mercy struck in the top half of the eighth as Kara Vitale walked and Grace Schmeiser singled to put runners on first and second. The Eagles misplayed a ball off the bat of Sydney Pollock and Vitale came around to score.
 
The momentum was short lived, however, with Eastern Michigan pushing a pair of runs across in the bottom of the eighth for the walk-off win.
 
The Titans picked up eight hits in the game, but left nine runners on base.
 
Freshman Liz Murphy got the start in the circle and received a no decision after allowing three runs on seven hits in five innings of work. Sophomore Ashley Mauser came on in relief and was tagged with the loss after allowing two runs (one earned) in 2.1 innings of work.
 
Schmeiser led the offense with three hits in four at-bats, while Vitale reached base four times on a hit and three walks.
 
Ferstle went 2-for-4 from the dish and Williams went 1-for-4 with two runs scored. The duo each launched a homerun in the defeat.
 
The Titans fall to 3-7 with the defeat, while EMU improves to 6-6.
 
Detroit Mercy returns to action next weekend at the San Diego Classic from the Golden State. The Titans will face Brigham Young, San Diego, UC-Davis, San Jose State, UC-Riverside and San Diego State from Mar. 3-8.