YOUNGSTOWN, OHIO (3/10/22) - Freshman Jaiden Lara belted her first career home run in the fifth inning as a pinch hitter while seniors McKenna Tanguay and Taylor Gauthier each hit 1-for-3 as Detroit Mercy came up short, 2-1, in a pitcher's duel at Youngstown State in the series finale on Friday at the YSU Softball Field. 

Graduate student Liz Murphy had a solid outing in the circle for the Titans going the distance tossing 6.0 innings with three strikeouts allowing only two runs off two hits in the bottom of the second inning and only three scattered hits the rest of the game. However, the Titans were unable to get the game tying run against YSU pitcher Sophie Howell who posted nine strikeouts in the complete game win.

Recap:
• Detroit Mercy left two runners stranded in the first inning
• YSU got a 2-run single in the bottom half to take an early lead
• Tanguay delivered the Titans first hit of the game in the third inning
• Liz Paver made a nice catch in center field and doubled off the runner at first base in the third
• Lara delivered a pinch hit home run putting the Titans on the board in the top of the fifth inning
• Gauthier posted her first hit of the game in the sixth inning and got moved to second in on a fielder's choice. However, the Titans left the pinch-runner Kara Wolfbauer stranded at second base

Detroit Mercy will travel to Notre Dame on Tuesday, Mar. 15 at 3 p.m.