DETROIT (3/3/23) – After a two-week break, the Detroit Mercy softball team continues the 2023 season with four games against four different teams in Harvard, Sacred Heart, Tennessee Chattanooga and host Gardner-Webb at the Red and Black Tournament held in Boiling Springs, North Carolina at Brinkley Softball Stadium.
 
The Titans open tournament play with a doubleheader against the Harvard Crimson on Saturday, Mar. 4 at 11 a.m. followed by the Pioneers of Sacred Heart at 1 p.m. The Titans conclude tournament play of with a second doubleheader against the Tennessee Chattanooga Mocs on Sunday, Mar. 5 at 1 p.m. followed by a final game against the Runnin' Bulldogs of host Gardner-Webb at 3 p.m. which will be broadcast on ESPN+.
 
Notes:
Close but no Cigar:
Although Detroit Mercy starting the season without a win at the season-opening DePaul Dome Tournament, the Titans lost three games by a single run.
 
Walk-Off Woes:
The Titans also lost two games in walk-off fashion against Creighton (4-3) and Western Illinois (2-1) at the DePaul Dome Tournament.
 
At the Dish:
In Chicago, sophomore Jaiden Lara led the Titans in hitting (.385), hits (5), RBI (2) and total bases (6) with a double and .929 on-base plus slugging percentage (OPS).
- Senior Jordan Hazel was second in hits (4) and tops in total bases (8), doubles (2) and triples (1).
- Seniors Kara Wolfbauer and Renee Trotman also hit two doubles each.
- Freshman Trinity Fessler recoded three total hits with her first collegiate hit against Evansville going 2-for-3 and added another against WIU.
 
In the Circle:
- Senior Olivia Warrington led the Titans in innings pitched (20.0) and strikeouts (13) with a 1.75 ERA.
 
Double Trouble:
As a team, the Titans posted seven total doubles.
 
Team Breakdown:
- The Titans return six seniors in Jordyn Chapman, Jordan Hazel, Allison Smith, Renee Trotman, Olivia Warrington and Kara Wolfbauer
 
- Chapman is back behind the dish after starting in 39 of 40 games played at catcher. She ranked fourth on the team in batting average (.202), walks (9) doubles (3) and games played (40). She also ranked fifth in hits (20) and slugging percentage (.263) and hit first career home run against RMU (3/17) last season.
 
- Hazel started in 29 of 33 games played in right field recording 13 hits, four RBI, three runs, three walks and 16 total bases with three multi-hit games.
 
- Smith action in 25 games with 17 starts at shortstop last season. She recorded five hits, five RBI, five runs with a double, home run and nine total bases and belted her second career home run going 1-for-3 with two runs in at NKU (4/30).
 
- Trotman started in 31 of 33 games played mainly at first base and designated player while ranking third on the team in walks (10), tied for fourth in home runs (2) and fifth in runs (5) and RBI (6).
 
- Warrington made five starts with 12 appearances with 40.0 innings pitched in the circle ranking second on the staff in strikeouts (34). Tossed two complete games vs Appalachian State (2/19) and YSU (3/10) and picked up only win in relief against PFW (4/16).
 
- Wolfbauer saw action in 24 games mostly as a pinch runner with eight starts in outfield. She recorded her first career hit going 1-for-2 at Elon (3/6) and had four runs scored on the season.
 
- Lara also returns after have a solid freshman campaign where she started in 23 of 33 games played at first base, designed player and third base ranking third on the team in home runs (3) while also posting 12 hits, seven RBI, seven runs, five walks and 21 total bases. Lara hit her first career long ball as a pinch hitter at YSU (3/10), second against RMU (3/17) and third vs CSU (5/6).
 
- Sophomore Chole Spitzer also had a successful freshman campaign in the circle starting in 10 games with 17 appearances. Spitzer ranked third on the staff in strikeouts (23), second in complete games (3) and innings pitched (54.0). She had a solid outing in her first career start going the distance tossing 10.0 innings while allowing only one earned run with eight scattered hits and three walks against RMU (3/18). She also recorded her first career win matching a career-high four strikeouts in 6.1 innings of work leading Detroit Mercy to a 2-1 win at NKU (4/30).
 
- Junior Maddy Heilner will look to contribute on this year's squad after not seeing any action in 2022. During the 2021 season, she started in all four games posting two hits, two RBI, a walk and a run scored against Robert Morris helping the Titans to a 2-2 record before the season was canceled due to COVID-19.
 
Fresh Faces:
The Titans have seven freshman newcomers in Elyssa Adams, Alison Donaugh, Trinity Fessler, Rusti Glenn, Jenna Holt, Avery Paul and Ross Trotman.
 
Sisters Reunited Times Two:
This season, Detroit Mercy has two sets of sisters on the roster as freshman Ross Trotman joins big sister Renee Trotman and junior transfer Ryann Glenn comes to the Titans from Creighton to join her younger sister freshman Rusti Glenn.
 
The Skipper:
Head Coach Marc Gillis returns for his fifth season at the helm for the Titans
 
2023 Preseason Poll:
Detroit Mercy was picked to finish ninth in the 2023 Horizon League Softball Preseason Poll announced by the league office and voted on by the league's seven nine coaches. The Titans received 13 overall points.