Game 1 - Detroit Mercy 2 at Oakland 1 | Game 2 - Detroit Mercy 0 at Oakland 8 (5 Inn.) (Apr. 6)
Junior Jordan Kavanaugh's third complete game of the season proved to be the charm as she picked up her first career win in a Detroit Mercy uniform as the Titans locked down a 2-1 Metro Series win over arch-rival Oakland for the first time since the 2019 season. The Titans dropped the second leg of the doubleheader 8-0 on Wednesday afternoon at the Oakland Softball Field.
 
Freshman Claire Borg delivered the big hit in the first game with a two-run double to score freshman Alexis Hoff and junior Amanda Schick giving the Titans a 2-1 lead for good. Hoff went 2-for-2 while Schick and sophomores Alison Donaugh and Jenna Holt each recorded a hit.
 
Fantastic Fessler:
• Fessler leads the team in hits (19) doubles (4), runs (11), batting average (.260), total bases (24), and slugging percentage (.356) while ranking in second triples (1), and at-bats (73).
• She went 3-for-3 with a walk in game one and drew three walks in game two at IUPUI (4/6).
• She hit a season-best 3-for-4 with two doubles and a pair of runs at North Alabama (3/7).
 
Dynamite Donaugh:
• Donaugh ranks second on the team in batting average (.243), hits (17), slugging percentage (.314), and total bases (21).
• She hit 2-for-3 vs EIU (2/25) and 2-for-2 at YSU (3/16).
• During the nine games over Spring Break, she hit .287 with six hits, a home run, a double, and two runs scored.
 
Double Trouble:
• Fessler and Jada Davis lead the team in doubles (4) followed by Schick (3).
 
Bring Em Home:
• Donaugh and Junior Amanda Schick lead the team in RBI (6) with Davis in second (4) and Hoff (3) and Elyssa Adams (3) tied for third.
 
Give Em' Three Bags:
• Fessler hit the team's first triple against EIU (2/25) which also was the first of her career.
• Holt hit lead-off triples in consecutive days against MSTU (3/3 & 3/4).
 
Two is Better than One:
Fessler (4) leads the team in multi-hit games followed by Holt (2), Schick (2), Hoff (2), and Donaugh (2).
 
It's Long Gone:
• Junior Jordan Kavanaugh connected on a two-run home run for her first in a Titan uniform at IUPUI (4/7).
• Sophomore Avery Paul's first career hit was as good as it gets as she belted her first career home at BGSU (3/30).
• Donaugh posted UDM's first home run of the season in the Titans' first win at North Alabama (3/7).
• Junior Amanda Schick went 1-for-2 hitting her first career home run in a Titan uniform at YSU (3/17).
• Freshman Jada Davis hit her first career home run at MTSU (3/4) which was UDM's first long ball of the season.
 
Freshman Firsts:
• Davis recorded her first career hit against WKU (2/24).
• She also posted her first career double with a run scored vs Saint Louis (2/24).
• Borg posted her first career hit vs EIU (2/23) and first career double at MTSU (3/3).
• Olivia Malcolm posted her first career hit in the win at North Alabama (3/7) and first career double vs UMES (3/8).
• Alexis Hoff's first career hit was a double at MTSU (3/1)
 
Walk it Out:
• Fessler leads the team in walks (13) followed by Claire Borg (11) and Donaugh (8).
 
Double Duty:
• Kavanaugh is tied for the team in strikeouts (40)
• Tossed her third complete game of the season proved to be the charm as she picked up her first career win in a Detroit Mercy uniform as the Titans locked down a 2-1 Metro Series win over arch-rival Oakland for the first time since the 2019 season (4/11).
• She recorded her first career complete game tossing 6.0 innings with a season-high eight strikeouts at IUPUI (4/6).
• Kavanaugh also went 3-for-7 overall with an RBI double and walk at the plate.
 
Shut Em' Down:
• Graduate student Olivia Warrington picked her first win of the season after tossing a complete game shutout only giving up six scattered hits in 7.0 innings of work lifting UDM to a 2-0 at North Alabama (3/7).
 
So Close:
• The Titans have come up short in one-run games on five occasions, 2-1 at IUPUI twice (4/6), 5-4 at BGSU (3/30), 9-8 vs Maryland Eastern Shore (3/8) and 3-1 at MTSU (3/3).
 
Mother Nature Unkind:
• Due to weather conditions, UDM's games at CMU were canceled and the home opening series against RMU was postponed.

Meet the Skipper:
Dan Vitale was named Head Coach of the Detroit Mercy softball program in August 2023. Vitale returned to the program after helping guide the Titans to the 2019 Horizon League Championship as a Volunteer Assistant Coach.
 
After his three seasons at Detroit Mercy (2016-19), Vitale served as the Head Coach for the Dakota High School where he complied a 93-18-1 record over five seasons leading the Cougars to three consecutive MAC (Macomb Area Conference) Red titles and three straight District crowns. He also helped Dakota claim two regional titles along with a Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA) State quarterfinal appearance and runner-up finish in 2021.
 
Additionally, Vitale is a two-time MAC Coach of the Year (2021, 2023) and Regional Coach of the Year (2021, 2022) and All-County Coach of the Year (2023). He also coached the 2022 High School All-Star team and under his guidance over the past three seasons, six Dakota student-athletes are playing softball at the Division I collegiate level.
 
Coaching Staff:
Taylor Moceri (Assistant Coach): Moceri comes to Detroit Mercy after spending six years a Head Coach for the Michigan Batbusters high-level travel softball team where she led recently led the team to three tournament championships and 28-1-3 overall record during the 2023 summer season. She also served as the varsity softball Head Coach at L'Anse Creuse North High School for three years since 2020.
 
Pam Savich Assistant Coach/Pitching): Savich comes to the Titans after spending three years as an Assistant Softball and Pitching Coach under Vitale at Macomb Dakota High School where she helped guide the Cougars to three consecutive MAC (Macomb Area Conference) Red titles, three straight District crowns, two regional titles along with a Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA) State quarterfinal appearance, runner-up finish in 2021 and No. 1 ranking during the 2023 regular season.
 
Rob Ward Assistant Coach/Hitting): Ward brings 25 years of coaching experience to the Detroit Mercy coaching staff with a history of helping high school student-athletes achieve their dreams of playing softball in all divisions at the collegiate level. Ward has been a part of the Anchor Bay High School softball program since 2017-18 while serving as a Varsity Assistant Coach since 2020 where his responsibilities include overseeing hitting, infield mechanics, base running, and player development. He has helped guide the Tars to a 132-50 overall record, two Metro Area Conference (MAC) Red co-championships, three district titles, and three regional appearances.
 
Leena Mortensen (Assistant Coach/Graduate Assistant): Mortensen returns to the Titans as a Graduate Assistant after a stand-out three-year career as a student-athlete. She was a three-time Detroit Mercy Athletic Director's Honor Roll (2020-22) and a three-time Horizon League Fall and Spring Academic Honor Roll member (2020-22). During the 2022 season, Mortensen started in 41 of a team-best 42 games played at designated player and first base where she led the team in at-bats (120), ranked second in doubles (5), third in RBI (8), fourth in hits (24), and fifth in batting average (.200).
 
Fresh Faces (10):
The Titans have 10 newcomers in Jada Davis, Amanda Schick, Alexis Hoff, Lauren Creon, Olivia Malcom, Ryleigh Carraway, Molly Upton, Clair Borg, Jordan Kavanaugh and Alicia Avina who will look to contribute and make an immediate impact.
 
2024 Preseason Poll:
Detroit Mercy was picked to finish ninth in the 2024 #HLSB Preseason Poll announced by the league office and voted on by the league's seven nine coaches. The Titans received 13 overall points.

Team Breakdown - Returners (9):
Rusti Glenn:
• Recorded six hits with a home run, two RBI, three runs, nine total bases, and five walks.
• Named Nike® Horizon League Softball Player of the Week (3/21) after hitting a blistering .800 going 4-for-5 with a home run, RBI and run scored while accounting for seven total bases and a 1.400 slugging percentage. After going 2-for-2 in the game one setback at Robert Morris, Glenn hit 2-for-3 belting her first career home run to propel Detroit Mercy to a 2-0 win to earn a doubleheader split and secure the Titans' first #HLSB victory of the season.
 
Jenna Holt
2023 Highlights:
• 2023 Horizon League All-Freshman Team selection
• Started 23 of 34 games played while leading the team in walks (12), runs (7) and stolen bases (2).
• Also ranked second in batting average (.238), third in total bases (19), slugging percentage (.302), hits (15), doubles (2), and triples (1).
• Posted first career hit at RMU (3/16)
• Tied for second on the team with three multi-hit games
• Also ranked second on the team batting .288 in league games
 
Trinity Fessler
2023 Highlights:
• Ranked fourth on the team in hits (14), runs (5), RBI (3).
• Also ranked second in sacrifice bunts (3) and stolen bases (2) and third in at-bats (83).
• Tied for second on the team with multi-hit games (3).
 
Chloe Spitzer
2023 Highlights:
• Ranked second on team in innings pitched (71.2), strikeouts (31), complete games (7), appearances (17) and starts (13).
• Lone win came against at NC A&T (3/8) allowing only two runs on five scattered hits with four strikeouts while tossing 110 pitches.
• Posted season-high five strikeouts against arch-rival Oakland (4/12)
 
Elyssa Adams
2023 Highlights:
• Saw action in 11 games with seven starts.
• Had 18 at-bats with four walks
• Posted first career hit against Green Bay (5/6)
 
Alison Donaugh
2023 Highlights:
• 2023 Horizon League All-Freshman Team selection
• Lead the team in batting (.254), ranked second in hits (17), RBI (5), home runs (2), total bases (25) and slugging percentage (.373).
• Also led the team in batting (.333) in league games
• Made 14 appearances in the circle with three starts while posting 13 strikeouts.
 
Avery Paul
2023 Highlights:
• Saw action in five games
 
Jaiden Lara
2023 Highlights:
• Led the team in hits (23), RBI (13), home runs (6), runs (7), walks (12), total bases (42), at-bats (98) and multi-hit games (4).
• Her six home runs tied for first in the HL.
• Hit a home run in consecutive days at Elon (3/7) and at NC A&T (3/8) followed by her third at PFW (3/31), fourth against Oakland (4/12), fifth against IUPUI (4/29) and sixth at Green Bay (5/5).
 
Olivia Warrington
2023 Highlights:
• Led team in innings pitched (128.2 – 7th HL), strikeouts (90 – 8th HL), complete games (16), appearances (23), and starts (21).
• Recorded three wins on the season against RMU, YSU and at Green Bay.
• Tossed complete-game shutout allowing only two hits while matching a season-best seven strikeouts in 1-0 win at Green Bay (5/5)
• Posted season-high seven strikeouts on four occasions, vs BGSU (2/10), at NC A&T (3/8), vs IUPUI (4/27) and at Green Bay (5/5).

Season Recap:
Detroit Mercy 0 at Oakland 10 (5 inn.) (Apr. 9)
Junior Jaiden Lara broke up a no-hit bid in the top of the fifth inning as Detroit Mercy fell at arch-rival Oakland 10-0 in the Metro Series opener on Tuesday afternoon at the Oakland Softball Field. With two outs, Lara hit a ball up the middle to break up a no-hit bid by Oakland ace pitcher Sydney Campbell.
 
Detroit Mercy 2 at IUPIU 10 (5 inn.) (Apr. 7)
Junior Jordan Kavanaugh continued to be hot from the plate connecting on a two-run home run for her first in a Titan uniform as Detroit Mercy dropped a 10-2 #HLSB series finale at IUPUI on Sunday afternoon. Freshman Alexis Hoff posted her third double of the season with a walk while freshman Jada Davis and junior Amanda Schick each went 1-for-2.
 
Game 1 - Detroit Mercy 1 at IUPUI 2 | Game 2 - Detroit Mercy 1 at IUPIU 2 (Apr. 6)
Junior Jordan Kavanaugh pulled double duty going 3-for-7 overall with an RBI double and walk at the plate while tossing 6.0 innings with a season-high eight strikeouts in the circle in game two as Detroit Mercy came up short with a pair of 2-1 #HLSB doubleheader setbacks at IUPUI on Saturday afternoon.
 
Graduate Student Olivia Warrington was also solid in the circle posting a season-high eight strikeouts in 6.0 innings of work in game one. Sophomore Trinity Fessler went 3-for-3 with a run and a walk in game one and drew three walks in the nightcap while freshman Alexis Hoff hit 2-for-3. Freshman Claire Borg also recorded a hit and a walk in the first game.
 
Game 1 - Detroit Mercy 4 at BGSU 5 | Game 2 - Detroit Mercy 0 at BGSU 8 (5 inn.) (Mar. 30)
Sophomore Avery Paul's first career hit was as good as it gets as she belted her first career home run while going 2-for-3 overall as Detroit Mercy battled but came up short 5-4 in the first leg of a doubleheader at Bowling Green in non-conference action on Saturday afternoon at Meserve Field. The Titans also dropped the nightcap 8-0.
 
Freshman Alexis Hoff was also solid at the dish going 2-for-3 with an RBI. Freshman Claire Borg hit 1-for-3 with an RBI while freshman Jada Davis also went 1-for-3 with a run scored. Sophomore Alison Donaugh added a hit-while and run with sophomore Trinity Fessler had run with two walks.
 
Detroit Mercy 1 at YSU 10 (5 inn.) (Mar. 17)
Junior Amanda Schick went 1-for-2 hitting her first career home run in a Titan uniform in the fourth inning as Detroit Mercy fell 10-1 in #HLSB St. Patrick's Day action at Youngstown State on Sunday afternoon at the YSU Softball Complex. Sophomore Alison Donaugh and freshman Alexis Hoff also each drew a walk.
 
Game 1 - Detroit Mercy 1 at YSU 11 (5 inn.) | Game 2 - Detroit Mercy 1 at YSU 10 (5 inn.) (Mar. 16)
Sophomores Alison Donaugh, Trinity Fessler, and Jenna Holt each recorded two hits as Detroit Mercy kicked off the #HLSB season with an 11-1 and 10-1 doubleheader setback at Youngstown State on Saturday afternoon at the YSU Softball Complex.
Freshman Claire Borg, junior Jaiden Lara, and sophomore Elyssa Adams also each recorded a hit.
 
UNA Tournament (Mar. 7-9):
First Win in the Books
Game 1 - Detroit Mercy 2 at North Alabama 0 | Game 2 - Detroit Mercy 2 at North Alabama 6 (Mar. 7)
• Sophomore Alison Donaugh went 1-for-3 hitting a clutch home run in the top of the seventh inning to lead Detroit Mercy to their first win of the season with a 2-0 decision at North Alabama to earn a doubleheader split.
• Warrington picked her first win of the season after tossing a complete game shutout only giving up six scattered hits in 7.0 innings of work.
• Freshman Jada Davis plated sophomore Jenna Holt for the game-winning run off a suicide squeeze in the fourth inning.
• Freshman Claire Borg and redshirt freshman Olivia Malcolm also each posted a hit.
• The win at UNA also marked the first career win for Head Coach Dan Vitale.
 
• For the second consecutive tournament, Fessler hit .300 to lead the Titans going .389 with seven hits, two doubles, with four runs scored.
• Donaugh also hit .308 with four hits, a home run, two runs, and a team-best five RBI.
• Schick posted three hits with a double, RBI, and run.
• Davis also had three hits with two doubles, two RBI, and a pair of runs.
• Sophomore Elyssa Adams posted two hits with a double, two RBI, and a run.
• Freshman Olivia Malcolm also recorded two hits and a double with a pair of runs.
 
MTSU Invitational (Mar. 1-3) | at MTSU DH (Mar. 4) | at Tennessee State (Mar. 6):
• Davis hit her first career home run which also was the first long ball of the season for the Titans at MTSU (3/4).
• Davis hit .250 overall with three hits, a double and two RBI.
• Sophomore Jenna Holt hit lead-off triples in consecutive days against MSTU (3/3-4)
• Fessler hit .300 with three, a double, RBI, and a run.
• Freshman Claire Borg had two hits with her first career double
• Junior Amanda Schick had a double against Army (3/2).
 
WKU Hilltopper Classic (Feb. 23-24):
The Titans kicked off the 2024 campaign playing five games at the WKU Hilltopper Classic with they went 0-5.
• Sophomore Alison Donaugh led the way at the plate hitting .455 with five hits, a double, RBI, and run scored. She went 2-for-3 against EIU (2/23).
• Junior Amanda Schick was second on the team batting .333 posting a hit in three of four games played which included a double and RBI. She recorded her first hit in a Titan uniform against EIU (2/23).
• Sophomore Jenna Holt was the other player to record three hits going 2-for-3 vs Saint Louis with a hit vs EIU (2/25).
• Sophomore Elyssa Adams had two hits going 1-for-2 in both games vs EIU.
• Junior Jaiden Lara added her first hit of the season off an RBI double against WKU (2/24).