DETROIT (3-5-25) – The Detroit Mercy softball team travels to the state of Alabama for a seven-game road swing. The Titans kick things off in Huntsville, Ala. with a doubleheader at Alabama A&M on Thursday, Mar. 6 at 12 p.m. and 2 p.m. Both games will be broadcast live from the Bulldog Softball Field on the Bulldog All-Access free of charge.
UDM then travels to Florence, Ala. for the UNA Tournament to play five total games beginning against Samford on Friday, Mar. 7 at noon ET followed by host North Alabama at 5 p.m. ET. This game will be broadcast live from the Hilda B. Anderson Softball Stadium on ESPN+.
On the second day of competition, the Titans play Louisiana Monroe on Saturday, Mar. 8 at noon ET followed by their second game against host North Alabama at 7:30 p.m. that will also be on ESPN+.
UDM closes out tournament play on Sunday, Mar. 9 with a rematch against Louisiana Monroe at 11 a.m. ET.
Last time out: Detroit Mercy Grinds Out First Win of the Season with Doubleheader Split
Game 9 - Detroit Mercy 3 vs UIC 2 (8 inn.) – Feb. 22, 2025:
• Sophomore
Claire Borg came up clutch, going 3-for-3 with two RBI, including driving in the winning run in the eighth inning, leading the Titans to a 3-2 win over former #HLSB opponent UIC, securing the victory of the season.
• UDM racked up a season-high eight hits as sophomore
Jada Davis went 2-for-4 with a run while junior
Trinity Fessler went 1-for-4 with a run. Freshmen
Allison Fluker and
Natalie Babcock each recorded a hit, while
Leah Daniels secured an RBI off a sacrifice fly.
• Freshman
Erin Flynn was solid in the circle, tossing 7.0 innings with four strikeouts, allowing two runs (one earned), picking up her first career win.
• Senior
Jordan Kavanagh picked up the save, keeping the Flames off the board in the eighth inning.
Game 8 - Detroit Mercy 0 vs UTEP 2 – Feb. 22, 2025:
• UDM had seven hits with Fessler and Davis each hitting a double but came up on the short end of a pitcher's duel, only surrendering both runs off a pair of wild pitches.
Game 6 - Detroit Mercy 0 at #12 Texas Tech 10 | Game 7 - Detroit Mercy 0 at #12 Texas Tech 20 (5 inn.) – Feb. 21, 2025:
• In game one, freshman
Madeline Hallman broke up Texas Tech (10-3) pitcher Bailey Lindermuth's no-hit bid with a single to the shortstop. Freshman
Wendy Ketola recorded Detroit Mercy's (0-7) second hit of the contest with a single to center field in the sixth inning.
• In the nightcap, freshman
Leah Daniels accounted for half of the Titans' four hits going 2-for-2 while sophomore
Jada Davis and freshman
Wendy Ketola added a hit each.
Offensive Production:
Jeannine McHaney Memorial Classic - Texas Tech
• Borg hit a team-best .667 with four hits, a run going 3-for-3 with two RBI, including driving in the winning run in the eighth inning, leading the Titans to a 3-2 win over former #HLSB opponent UIC, securing the victory of the season.
• Daniels hit .429 with three hits and an RBI.
• Davis posted a .333 ave. with four hits, a double, and a run.
• Ketola hit .300 with three hits.
• Fessler had two hits with a double.
DePaul Rosemont Tournament
• Fluker and Klaft led the team, hitting .364 with four hits each with a double and triple, respectively.
• Fessler hit .333 with four hits and a double.
• Davis hit .250 with a double and two triples with three RBI.
• Keown also hit .250 with two hits with a team-best five RBI while hitting the team's first home run of the season.
Double Trouble:
• The Titans posted six doubles from six different players in Fluker (1), Fessler (1), Davis (1), Babcock (1)
Amanda Schick (1), and
Alexis Hoff (1) at the DePaul Rosemont Tournament.
Give Em' Three Bags:
• Davis hit a pair of triples at the DePaul Rosemont Tournament against Butler (2/8) and St. Thomas (2/9).
• Klaft hit her first career triple against WIU (2/8).
It's Long Gone:
• Keown hit her first career home run (and the team's first of the season) against WIU (2/8.)
Team Breakdown:
Oh Captain, My Captain:
Senior Jordan Kavanaugh, junior
Trinity Fessler, and sophomore
Claire Borg were named team captains for the 2025 season.
2024 Kavanaugh Highlights:
• Saw action in 36 games, making 28 starts
• Led the pitching staff in strikeouts (68), complete games (8), and innings pitched (109.2 – 7th HL).
• Earned the win on the mound against Green Bay, giving the Titans their first #HLSB series victory since 2019 (5/4).
• Tossed her third complete game of the season, which proved to be the charm as she picked up her first career win in a Detroit Mercy uniform, allowing only one run on five scattered hits with a strikeout 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).
• Recorded first career complete game, tossing 6.0 innings with a season-high eight strikeouts at IUPUI (4/6).
• Also went 3-for-7 overall with an RBI double and walk at the plate.
• At the plate, hit .294 in 51 at-bats with two home runs and nine RBI
2024 Fessler Highlights:
• Started all 44 games
• Led the team in hits (30), doubles (8), runs (20), walks (19), batting average (.254), slugging percentage (.441), total bases (52), in multi-hit games (7), at-bats (118), and games started (44).
• Ranked second in home runs (4), RBI (11), triples (1), and stolen bases (2).
• Went 2-for-5 with a grand slam home run in the season finale against Green Bay (5/4).
• In game two of the doubleheader, she hit 1-for-2 with three RBI and two walks while coming up huge hitting a clutch two-run double to tie the game in the seventh inning sparking a 5-4 come-from-behind win against NKU (4/27).
• Overall in the DH, she went 3-for-5 with four RBI, two doubles, two walks, and two runs scored while hitting her third home run of the season.
• Went 3-for-3 with a walk in the first game and drew three walks in game two at IUPUI (4/6).
• Hit the team's first triple against EIU (2/25) which also was the first of her career.
• Hit 3-for-4 with two doubles and a pair of runs at North Alabama (3/7).
• Posted a .925 fielding percentage
2024 Borg Highlights:
• Played in all 44 games, starting 42
• Ranked second on the team in walks (15)
• Posted her first career hit vs EIU (2/23) and first career double at MTSU (3/3).
• Posted a .933 fielding percentage
• Made 12 appearances on the mound, including four starts
• Drove in two runs at Oakland (4/10)
• Closed the door on the Norse, picking up her first career win in the circle, tossing 1.1 innings in relief helping the Titans to a 5-4 win at NKU (4/27). Borg also hit 1-for-3 in both games, with an RBI in game two.
Returning Starters (8)
Junior
Jenna Holt, junior
Trinity Fessler, sophomore
Jada Davis, senior
Amanda Schick, sophomore
Alexis Hoff, junior
Elyssa Adams, sophomore
Claire Borg, and senior
Jordan Kavanagh.
2024 Holt Highlights:
• 2024 College Sports Communicators Academic (CSC) Academic All-District® NCAA Division I Softball Team selection.
• 2024 Valeo #HLSB All-Academic Team Honorable Mention with a 3.85 GPA.
• Started in 37 of 38 games played leading the team in triples (2), stolen bases (4), and sacrifice bunts (4).
• Also finished the season ranking second in batting average (.224), third in runs (13) and walks (8), fourth in hits (22) and at-bats (98), and fifth in total bases (27) and slugging percentage (.276).
• Went 1-for-3 reaching on a fielder's choice to bring home the game-winning run in the bottom of the sixth inning lifting Detroit Mercy to a 3-2 series-opening win over Green Bay (5/3).
• Also ranked third on the team in multi-hit games (4) and reached base in seven consecutive games during the season.
• Hit lead-off triples on consecutive days against MSTU (3/3 & 3/4).
• Hit 2-for-3 against St. Louis (2/24), YSU (3/16) and RMU (4/22).
2024 Davis Highlights:
• Appeared and started in all 44 games
• Had quite the season leading the team in RBI (15), home runs (5), and games started (44).
• Ranked second in hits (23), runs (14), total bases (47), doubles (7), slugging percentage (.402), triples (1), sac bunts (3), and at-bats (117) while ranking third in walks (8).
• Hit a pair of home runs against PFW (4/20) for her fourth and fifth of the season.
• Connected on her first career home run at MTSU (3/4) which was UDM's first long ball of the season. Followed with a second in the Titans' 6-2 win over CSU (4/14). Her third long ball was a three-run shot against Toledo (4/18).
• Went 2-for-3 with a double and run scored in UDM's 6-2 win over CSU (4/14).
• Recorded her first career hit against WKU (2/24).
• Posted her first career double with a run scored vs Saint Louis (2/24).
2024 Schick Highlights:
• Appeared and started in 42 games
• Ranked third on the team in hits (23), RBI (9), doubles (5), at-bats (109), and total bases (31).
• Ranked fourth in batting (.211), slugging percentage (.284), and home runs (1).
• Went 1-for-2 hitting her first career home run in a Titan uniform at YSU (3/17).
• Had a .926 fielding percentage
2024 Hoff Highlights:
• Appeared in 42 games, making 40 starts
• Ranked third on the team in batting (.221) and slugging percentage (.295)
• Also ranked fourth in RBI (7), doubles (4), and total bases (28) and fifth in hits (21).
• Hit first career home run in Titans 3-2 victory over Green Bay (5/4)
• First career hit was a double at MTSU (3/1).
• Recorded a .562 OPS
2024 Adams Highlights:
• Named to the 2024 College Sports Communicators Academic (CSC) Academic All-District® NCAA Division I Softball Team.
• Started in all 44 games leading the team in fielding percentage (.977) while ranking second in putouts (116) defensively.
• Posted nine hits, four RBI, and four runs scored.
• Went 1-for-1 with two walks in UDM's 3-2 win over Green Bay (5/3) and added an RBI sacrifice fly in the series-clinching win over the Phoenix (5/4) helping the Titans secure their first #HLSB series win since the 2019 season.
• Went 1-for-3 with a two-run double for the first of her career vs UMES (3/8).
• Recorded first career RBI off a sacrifice fly vs Saint Louis (2/24).
Other Returners (4):
Redshirt sophomore
Rusti Glenn, redshirt junior Chole Spitzer, junior
Avery Paul, sophomore
Alicia Avina, and redshirt sophomore
Lauren Creon.
Fresh Faces (14):
The Titans have 14 newcomers in
Natalie Babcock,
Jade Blanchard,
Leah Daniels,
Josalyn Dietlin,
Allison Fluker,
Erin Flynn,
Paige Keown,
Wendy Ketola,
Abby Klaft,
Madeline Hallman,
Mia Hubbell,
Mikayla La Bounty,
Liv Peterson, and
Aleah Tanguay.
The Skipper Returns:
• Head Coach
Dan Vitale returns for his second season at the helm of the Detroit Mercy softball program. Vitale returned to the program in 2024 after helping guide the Titans to the 2019 Horizon League Championship as a Volunteer Assistant Coach.
• Helped the Titans to a series victory over Green Bay, giving them their first #HLSB series win since 2019.
• Led the UDM to a 2-1 Metro Series win over arch-rival Oakland for the first time since the 2019 season (4/11).
Coaching Staff Additions:
Christina Skalsky (Assistant Coach/Pitching):
Skalsky was named Assistant Coach of the Detroit Mercy softball team in the Fall of 2024 and brings over 20 years of pitching coach experience to the Titans.
Skalsky served as Assistant Varsity Coach at L'Anse Creuse North High School for three years (2020-23) and spent 12 years as an Assistant Coach for the Michigan Batbusters travel team (2010-22), helping many student-athletes sign and continue their love to play collegiate softball.
Skalsky also spent time as the Pitching Coach at Northwood University in 2005, where she helped guide one of the greatest turnarounds in program history. The 2005 team earned 34 overall wins while going 14-6 in league play, earning the first conference championship in school history. Her pitching staff won the most games while recording the most strikeouts, shutouts, and lowest ERA in school history. The Timberwolves also made their first appearance in the NCAA tournament in program history advancing to the quarterfinals. For their accomplishments, the 2005 team was inducted into the Northwood Athletic Hall of Fame Class of 2024
Tony Misuraca (Assistant Coach/Outfield):
Misuraca was named Assistant Coach of the Detroit Mercy softball team in 2024 and brings 25 years of coaching experience to Titans, including 16 years as the head coach at Sterling Heights Stevenson High School. He earned 444 career victories while leading Stevenson to two Macomb Area Conference (MAC) Red titles, nine district titles, and two regional titles.
Under his direction, 39 former Stevenson players went on to play collegiate softball. Misuraca also was inducted into the Macomb County Athletic Directors Association Hall of Fame in 2025.
2025 Preseason Poll:
For the second consecutive season, Detroit Mercy was picked to finish ninth in the 2025 #HLSB Preseason Poll announced by the league office and voted on by the league's nine coaches. The Titans received 16 overall points.
Season Rewind:
DePaul Rosemount Dome Tournament Recap:
Game 4 - Detroit Mercy 1 vs St. Thomas 3 | Game 5 - Detroit Mercy 2 vs Valparaiso 7 – Feb. 9, 2025:
• Sophomore
Jada Davis hit her second triple of the weekend
• Junior
Trinity Fessler went 2-for-6 overall with an RBI and walk as Detroit Mercy fell in walk-off fashion with a 3-1 setback to St. Thomas.
• Freshman
Paige Keown came up on the short end of a pitcher's duel tossing 6.1 innings with two strikeouts against St. Thomas.
• Senior
Jordan Kavanagh picked up the loss against Valparaiso with five strikeouts in 4.1 innings of work.
• Freshman
Allison Fluker posted a hit in each game
• Redshirt Sophomore
Lauren Creon, and freshmen
Abby Klaft and
Leah Daniels each recorded a hit.
Game 2 - Detroit Mercy 6 vs Western Illinois 8 | Game 3 - Detroit Mercy 5 vs Butler 13 (5. Inn.) – Feb. 8, 2025:
• Freshman
Paige Keown hit 1-for-3, connecting on a three-run homer along with a sacrifice fly to post four RBI
• Freshman
Abby Klaft went 3-for-4 with an RBI triple and a pair of runs scored.
• Freshman
Natalie Babcock went 1-for- 3 with a RBI double and two runs scored.
• Junior
Trinity Fessler hit one of three doubles for the Detroit Mercy while junior
Elyssa Adams accounted for one of the Titans' six total hits.
• Freshman
Erin Flynn made her first career start in the circle, going 4.2 innings with two strikeouts in the no-decision effort.
• Sophomore
Jada Davis led the way in the nightcap, going 2-for-2 with three RBI off a two-run double and RBI triple.
• Freshman
Allison Fluker added an RBI single
• Freshman
Wendy Ketola added an RBI groundout.
Game 1: Detroit Mercy 0 vs DePaul 1 – Feb. 7, 2025:
• Senior pitcher
Jordan Kavanagh went the distance, tossing 6.0 innings with seven strikeouts in the season opener.
• The Blue Demons (1-1) scored the only in the bottom of the sixth inning with an RBI triple and retired the Titans (0-1) in the top of the seventh to earn the victory. Detroit Mercy's best scoring chance came in the top of the fourth. However, the Titans grounded into a fielder's choice and failed to plate any runs across.
• The red, white, and blue registered three hits. Freshman
Liv Peterson was 1-of-3, while fellow freshman
Allison Fluker was 1-of-2, and freshman
Wendy Ketola also went 1-of-2 with a walk. It was the first collegiate hits of their careers for all three players. Junior
Trinity Fessler drew a walk, while junior
Jenna Holt stole a base.
