YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (3/30/18) -- The University of Detroit Mercy softball team used some stellar pitching and backed it up with strong hitting to sweep a doubleheader at Youngstown State on Friday, winning game one 4-0, and game two, 6-4. 

For the third time this season, Ashley Mauser set a new career-high in strikeouts. However, this time she would go to a new level, setting the school record for strikeouts in a game with 15 in the 4-0 first-game victory. She then came back in relief in game two to pick up the win and strike out four more batters in two innings of work. 

On the day, Kori Keyes had three hits and a run batted in, while Savvy Ferstle had one run scored, two hits and three RBI, including the game-winning RBI double in the seventh inning of game two. Jordan Manno had four hits, three runs scored and two RBI and Courtney Gilbert scored three runs and had three hits and two RBI. 

DETROIT MERCY 4 - YOUNGSTOWN STATE 0
Mauser was spectacular in game one going the full seven innings, scattering two hits, four walks and striking out a school-record 15 batters for her third victory of the season. Fourteen of her 15 strikeouts were swinging as she tossed 127 total pitches with 78 strikes in the contest. 

She had at least one strikeout in every inning and allowed only two balls to reach the outfield. 

In the top of the first, Gilbert led the game off with a double into left-center field. That would be followed by a single into left center by Manno, giving the Titans (8-18, 3-2 HL) an early 1-0 lead.

One of the Penguins (10-17, 1-4 HL) only two hits in game one would be by their second batter, who would advance to second after a walk from Mauser. She would then strike out the next seven batter she saw, en route to breaking the school record for strikeouts in a game with 15.

In the top of the sixth, Manno would reach second on a fielding error by the Penguins. That would be followed by a single from Keyes, who would then steal second, putting runners on second and third with one out.

Manno would then score on a wild pitch, doubling the Titans lead to 2-0.

Maddy Scarsella would lead off the top of the seventh with a double over the center fielder's head, sparking a big top of the seventh for the red, white and blue. After a flyout to right field, Gilbert would reach on a fielding error, and both runners would advance one bag on a wild pitch, leaving runners on second and third with one out.

Ferstle would then single to left field, driving in both runs and giving the Titans a 4-0 lead.

Mauser would then do what she did best this game and strike out two Penguins batters in the bottom of the seventh, before sealing the 4-0 victory for the red, white and blue.

DETROIT MERCY 6 - YOUNGSTOWN STATE 4
Game two would be much closer between the two Horizon League foes. 

In the top of the second, Kara Vitale would walk to lead off the inning. She would then advance to second base on a Scarsella ground out, putting her in scoring position for Elizabeth Yager.

Yager would single to left field, but Vitale would hold at third, leaving runners on the corners for Gilbert. Yager would steal second, and Gilbert would capitalize on the opportunity, driving in two runs with a single up the middle and giving the Titans a 2-0 lead.

Manno would then double to left field driving in Gilbert and extending the Titans lead to 3-0. That would be followed by a Keyes RBI single to left field to increase the advantage to 4-0.

Youngstown would answer back with two runs in the bottom of the second and another in the bottom of the third, cutting the red, white and blue lead to only one, 4-3.

The Penguins would score for the third consecutive inning, tying the game at 4-4 after four innings. 

The game would remain tied at 4-4 until the final inning. In the top of the seventh, the Titans bats came alive. Manno would lead off the inning with a single into left field, followed by her stealing second, leaving a runner in scoring position for Ferstle.

The senior would not miss her opportunity and would double down the left field line, scoring Manno and restoring the lead for Detroit Mercy. Alyssa Lang pinch hit for the Titans and drove a single into right field, advancing Ferstle to third and leaving runners on the corners.

Skylar Fairchild would then step up to the plate and lay down a perfect suicide squeeze to knock in Ferstle for a two-run 6-4 advantage. 

Game two was an overall effort from the pitching staff. Liz Murphy pitched 3.1 innings, scattering five hits, four earned runs, three walks and three strikeouts. She would be followed by Lindsay Brandon, who pitched 1.2 innings, surrendering three hits and zero runs.

Mauser would then return to the mound to pitch the final two innings for Detroit Mercy, surrendering one hit and striking out four more batters. That would bring her strikeout total to 19 on the day. 

Youngstown State had runners on second and third with one out in the bottom of the seventh, but Mauser registered a strikeout and then ended the game inducing a popout to second as the Titans secured a 6-4 victory. 

ON DECK
The Titans will finish up the three-game series against Youngstown State with one game tomorrow. First pitch is set for Noon.