DETROIT (3/23/18) -- The University of Detroit Mercy softball team defeated the defending league and tournament champs, the UIC Flames by a score of 5-2 on Friday afternoon.

That win gave them a 6-15 overall record, and a 1-0 Horizon League record. The Flames and Titans will face off in a doubleheader tomorrow, with game times set for 12 p.m. and 3 p.m.

Courtney Gilbert had a great day at the plate, going 2-for-3 with a double off the left field wall and an RBI triple off the right field fence, also scoring a pair of runs and stealing one base. Sydney Pollock had a stellar game at the plate, with one run scored, one hit and two walks at the plate. Jordan Manno also drove in a run off of one hit.

Ashley Mauser got the start on the mound and went the distance, pitching seven innings, surrendering five hits, two runs (zero earned), five walks and a career-high eight strikeouts.

DETROIT MERCY 5 - UIC 2
The Flames got off to a quick start, scoring a run in the first to take a 1-0 lead.

However, as they have all season, the Titans would immediately respond. In the bottom of the first, Gilbert would lead the inning off with a rocket double off the top of the left field fence, starting off a huge first inning for the Titans. 

That double would be followed by a single to the pitcher from Pollock, advancing Gilbert to third and leaving runners on the corners with no outs.

Manno would then hit a single through the right side, tying the game at 1-1, and leaving runners on first and second.

Savvy Ferstle would hit into a fielder's choice, advancing Pollock to third base, but retiring Manno at second base, again leaving runners on the corners, this time with one out.

Ferstle would steal second, and Kori Keyes would drive in a run with a single to second base, making the score 2-1 with runners on the corners.

Keyes would then steal second base successfully and on the throw down to second, Ferstle would steal home, extending the Titans lead to 3-1.

In the second inning, Elizabeth Yager would hit a single up the middle with two outs, bringing up Gilbert. This time she would triple off of the right field fence, driving in Yager and leaving her at third base with two outs and the score 4-1.

Pollock would then walk and while stealing second get caught in a pickle. While she was avoiding a tag, Gilbert would head home and extend the Titans lead to 5-1 before Pollock was tagged out at first base.

The Flames would tack on another run in the top of the fourth and threaten with runners on second and third in the top of the fifth, but Mauser was up to the challenge the entire game, getting out of the jam and seeing the game through for a 5-2 win for the red, white and blue.

ON DECK
The Titans will face off against the Flames in a double header tomorrow, game times set for 12 p.m. and 3 p.m. and will then head to Youngstown State for three games against the Penguins, March 30-31.