EVANSTON, ILL. (5/18/19) – The University of Detroit Mercy softball team's Cinderella Story came to an  end Saturday night after dropping a nail biter versus SIU.
 
The Titans faced the Silukis in an elimination game with the right to play #16 Northwestern on the line.
 
Liz Murphy got the nod in the circle and tossed a beauty, going 6.1 innings while scattering only five hits and four strikeouts.
 
In the top of the third inning, the red, white and blue took the lead, 1-0, courtesy of a bases loaded walk from Courtney Gilbert that drove home Alyssa Lang.
 
The Titans held the lead through a few jams in the middle innings, including a bases loaded pop out to Gilbert at short stop in the fourth.
 
In the bottom of the fifth, the Silukis leveled the score at 1-1.
 
McKenna Tanguay was 3-for-4 on the day, including a single in the top of the seventh, but the Titans were unable to capitalize.
 
In the bottom of the seventh, a single into left field proved to be enough, winning the game 2-1 for SIU.
 
Overall, the Titans ended the season with a 31-28 record, won the Horizon League Championship for the first time since 1992 and made the school's first ever NCAA Tournament appearance.
 
Seven seniors leave the program different than when they found it: Ashley Mauser, Jordan Manno, Courtney Gilbert, Sydney Pollock, Kori Keyes, Kaitlin Lambert and Kara Vitale.
 
When a special group of players joins together, their accomplishments need to be acknowledged: such as those of this incredibly gifted and defiant team.
 
Countless individual and team records fell during the best season the Titans have had in over 25 years.
 
Head coach John Conway will now officially retire after taking a program he found in shambles and leading them to uncharted territory.
 
There is a standard about this team that allows everyone to realize that they will stay prominent, and for that there are countless people to thank.
 
Instead, we will just say "Go Titans" one last time during our unforgettable 2019 season.