DETROIT (4/6/19) -- The University of Detroit Mercy softball team split a pair of games with Youngstown State on Saturday afternoon, clinching an overall series win in the process. 

On the day, Alyssa Lang had three hits, one walk, and one RBI, Taryn Peru had one hit, one walk, and one RBI, and McKenna Tanguay had a pair of hits.

DETROIT MERCY 2 – YOUNGSTOWN STATE 5
The first game was a defensive battle for the most part, with no runs on the board through the first three innings.

The Penguins struck first, putting one run on the board in the top of the fourth. 

The Titans answered in the bottom of the fifth, when Leena Mortensen started things off with a double off the wall in right field. 

Sydney Pollock came in to pinch run and Tanguay laid down a perfect sac bunt to advance Pollock to third with only one out. 

Kori Keyes then put a ball in play to the shortstop, allowing Pollock to come home and score, tying the game at 1-1. Lang followed that with a single up the middle, but the threat stopped there. 

In the top of the sixth inning, Youngstown was able to put four runs on the board, making their lead 5-1. 

In the bottom of the seventh, the Titans were able to load the bases after a walk from Mortensen, Keyes was hit by a pitch and Lang singled up the middle. 

Peru knocked home the first RBI of her career, keeping the game alive and making the score 5-2. 

The rally came up short, and the Titans fell by a final of 5-2.

Liz Murphy tossed 5.1 innings, scattering nine hits, five earned runs, one walk and eight strikeouts. 

Cami Sinclair tossed 1.2 innings in relief, shutting the Penguins down by scattering one hit, one walk and three strikeouts. 

DETROIT MERCY 2 – OAKLAND 0
Game two of the doubleheader was another defensive bout from start to finish. 

The Titans were able to breakthrough first in this game, putting a run on the board in the bottom of the second. 

Ellie Boteler led off the inning with a single up the middle, and Pollock replaced her as a pinch runner. 

Pollock stole second base, and came around to score on a single up the middle from Lang.

Pollock needed to execute a picture perfect hook slide at home, just extending her fingertips out enough to catch the plate, while keeping her body away from the Penguins catcher. 

In the bottom of the fifth, Jordan Manno doubled the lead with one swing of the bat, going yard over the left field fence. 

With a two run cushion, Ashley Mauser took care of the rest. She tossed her second complete game shutout of the series, going seven innings while scattering two hits, four walks and nine strikeouts. 


ON DECK
The Titans will head to Horizon League foe Cleveland State for a midweek contest. The games are scheduled for April 9-10, with the doubleheader on April 10 scheduled to be broadcast on ESPN+.