DETROIT (3-19-26) – After closing out their Spring Break road swing last weekend, the Detroit Mercy softball team opens the 2026 #HLSB season at Youngstown State with a three-game series. The Titans and Penguins play a single game on Friday, Mar. 20 at 3 p.m., followed by a doubleheader on Saturday, Mar. 20 at 1 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. All three games will be broadcast live from the YSU softball complex on ESPN+.
 
Leaders of the Pack:
• Junior Jada Davis leads the team in hits (19), ranks second in total bases (25), third in RBI (10) and in runs (11), and fourth in batting average (.297).
 
• Senior Trinity Fessler leads the team in batting average (.353), ranks second in hits (18), slugging percentage (.451), and RBI (11), and third in total bases (28).
 
• Freshman Hannah Schlachter leads the team in slugging percentage (.549), runs scored (16), and total bases (28) while ranking fourth in hits (14) and RBI (8).
 
• Sophomore Abby Klaft leads the Titans in RBI (13), and ranks third in batting average (.304), hits (17), and is tied for fourth in total bases (22).
 
It's Long Gone:
• Schlachter also leads the team in home runs (4), followed by Schultz (3), Ketola (2), Klaft (1), and Fessler (1).
 
Double Trouble:
• Davis also leads the team in doubles (4) with five other players in Fessler, Klaft, Schlachter, Schultz, and Babcock, all tied with two.
 
Give Em' Three Bags:
• Davis (2) leads the team in triples, followed by Babcock (1), and Fluker (1).
 
Walk it Out:
• Schlachter, Ketola, and Davis are all tied for the team in walks (9), followed by Fessler (7) and Babcock (6).
 
Multi-Hit Madness:
• 11 players have posted multi-hit games, led by Fessler (7), followed by Davis (6), Klaft (4), Higgins (3), Schultz (3), Schlachter (3), Fluker (2), Pokley (1), Babcock (1), Ketola (1), and Myer (1).
 
Three the Hard Way:
Three players have posted three-RBI games:
• Fessler vs Northwestern (4/8)
• Davis vs Abilene Christian (2/27)
• Klaft at Alabama A&M (3/11)
 
Season Recap:
Game 22: Detroit Mercy 3 vs Northwestern 8 – Mar. 14, 2026:
• Fessler hit her first home run of the season with a three-run shot in the top of the third inning.
• Junior Jada Davis recorded the only other hit for the Titans.
 
Game 21: Detroit Mercy 2 vs Northwestern 11 (5 inn.) – Mar. 13, 2026:
• Ketola hit her second home run of the season, which was a two-run shot in the bottom of the second.
 
Game 20: Detroit Mercy 2 vs Northern Iowa 6 – Mar. 13, 2026:
• Higgins, Davis, and Fessler each recorded a hit, while Schlachter had an RBI
 
Game 19: Detroit Mercy 11 at Alabama A&M 7 – Mar. 11, 2026:
• Klaft, who hit 1-for-2 with a team-best three RBI
• Schultz went 2-for-5 with two RBI, two runs scored, and two stolen bases and picked up her fourth win in the circle, tossing 5.0 innings in relief with three strikeouts.
• Higgins, Fessler, and Davis each posted two hits and an RBI, with Davis notching her team-best second triple of the season. Freshman Addison
• Pokley recorded one of UDM's 10 total hits on the day.
• The Titans were also leading game two 11-5 with two outs in the bottom of the fourth inning. However, the game was called due to rain and lightning in the area, and it is not official because four full innings were not completed.
 
Game 17: Detroit Mercy 12 at Alabama A&M (Game 1) | Game 18: Detroit Mercy 8 at Alabama A&M 3 (Game 2) – Mar. 10, 2026:
• Higgins had a breakout game, going 3-for-5 with a double, a run scored, and five RBI in game one.
• Davis hit 4-for-10 overall with three RBI and a run.
• Schlachter also had a big day, going 3-for-7 with a pair of home runs and two RBI.
• Klaft also went 3-for-7 with a home run, RBI single, and three runs scored,
• Tanguay added a two-run homer and a pair of runs scored in game two.
• Babcock also hit 1-for-2 with a double, an RBI, a pair of runs scored, and a walk,
• Fluker added a two-run single in game one.
• Pokley went 2-for-3 with an RBI double, a run, and a walk in the nightcap.
• Savannah Schultz had two hits on the day with two RBI and also picked up the win in the circle in game one, going 6.2 innings with a career-best nine strikeouts.
• Flynn won her second game of the season in game two, going 6.1 innings with five strikeouts.
 
Game 15: Detroit Mercy 4 at North Alabama 5 (Game 1) | Game 16: Detroit Mercy 3 at North Alabama 5 (Game 2) – Mar. 8, 2026:
• Schultz hit a pair of home runs, going 2-for-3 with a home run, double, RBI, and run in game one and 1-for-2 with a homer, run scored in game two. She also tossed a complete game with two strikeouts in the nightcap.
• Wendy Ketola hit her first career homer.
• Schlachter hit a combined 3-for-7 with a double, two RBI, and two runs scored.
• Babcock hit 1-for-2 with a pair of RBI
• Fessler went 2-for-4 in game one, and Higgins also went 2-for-4 with an RBI in game two.
 
Jeannine McHaney Memorial Classic hosted by 2025 NCAA National Runner-Up No. 2 Texas Tech Highlights:
Game 14: Detroit Mercy 4 vs Texas A&M Corpus Christi 8 – Mar. 1, 2026:
• Fessler hit 1-for-2 with a pair of RBI, a run scored, and a walk
• Klaft went 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI single
• Freshman Jenna Higgins went 2-for-2 with a run.
• Sophomore Madeline Hallman had an RBI single, with junior Jada Davis going 1-for-3 with a run and a walk.
• Freshman Aubrey Myer also went 1-for-1.
 
Game 13: Detroit Mercy 1 vs North Texas 18 (5 inn.) – Feb. 28, 2026:
• Davis got a hit in the first inning, added a walk in the third, and drove in UDM's lone run off a groundout to plate freshman Addison Pokley, who walked in the fifth inning.
 
Game 12: Detroit Mercy 0 at No. 2 Texas Tech 9 (5 inn.) – Feb. 28, 2026:
• Junior Jada Davis drew two walks and recorded Detroit Mercy's lone hit of the day.
• Davis and sophomore Natalie Babcock each drew a walk against Texas Tech, but the Titans had no answer for Red Raider pitcher Kaitlyn Terry, who tossed her second no-hitter of the season, going 5.0 innings with five strikeouts.
 
Game 11: Detroit Mercy 5 vs Texas A&M Corpus Christi 1 – Feb. 27, 2026:
• Freshman Savannah Schultz picked up her second win of the season, tossing a complete game, allowing only three hits and a run with three strikeouts, and also had an RBI groundout.
• Davis was on fire at the plate, hitting a combined 4-for-7 with three doubles, three RBI, and four runs scored.
• Fessler went 2-for-4 with a double and a pair of runs.
• Klaft went 3-for-3 with two RBI.
• Schlachter also added an RBI single with a run, with freshman Addison Pokley going 1-for-1 with two walks against the Islanders.
 
Game 10: Detroit Mercy 6 vs Abilene Christian 13 – Feb. 27, 2026:
• Fessler also posted four total hits, going 2-for-2 with an RBI double.
• Klaft went 1-for-2.
• Sophomore Madeline Hallman, freshman Hannah Schlachter, and junior Claire Borg recorded one of UDM's (3-8) 11 hits against ACU
• Sophomore Wendy Ketola went 2-for-3 while Aubrey Myer added an RBI single against ACU.
 
WKU Hilltopper Classic Highlights:
Game 9: Detroit Mercy 4 vs Butler 14 – Feb. 21, 2026:
• Schlachter picked up where she left off yesterday, going 2-for-2, hitting her second home run in back-to-back days.
• Sophomore Natalie Babcock went 2-for-3 with a two-run triple.
• Higgins and Klaft also added a hit each in game two against Butler. Sophomore Mia Hubbell added a hit, while junior Jada Davis had an RBI.
 
Game 8: Detroit Mercy 1 vs Western Kentucky 9 (5 inn.) – Feb. 21, 2026:
• Freshman Jenna Higgins broke up WKU's no-hit bid in the top of the fifth inning while sophomore Abby Klaft went 1-for-2 with an RBI to drive in Higgins for Detroit Mercy's lone run.
 
Game 7: Detroit Mercy 0 vs Western Michigan 1 – Feb. 20, 2026:
• Schultz also got the loss, going 3.0 innings, allowing only the lone run as the starter against the Broncos.
• Senior Trinity Fessler recorded two of Detroit Mercy's three hits, with Schlachter going 1-for-2 to record the other hit.
 
Game 6: Detroit Mercy 10 vs Butler 9 – Feb. 20, 2026:
• Sophomore Abby Klaft went 2-for-5, delivering the game-winning hit, scoring freshman Hannah Schlachter in the 10th inning, to cap off Detroit Mercy's epic 10-9 win coming back from 6-0 down to Butler during the opening day of action.
• Schlachter also came up clutch, belting her first career home run with a three-run shot as the Titans scored nine runs in the sixth inning to take the lead.
• Freshman Savannah Schultz went 2-for-4 at the plate and picked up her first career win in the circle, going 3.0 innings in relief with a strikeout.
• Sophomore Madeline Hallman went 1-for-3 with two RBI, two runs, and two walks, while junior Jada Davis hit 2-for-3 with a double, an RBI, and a run.
 
DePaul Dome Tournament Highlights:
• UDM went 1-4 with a 2-1 walk-off win over Drake.
• Sophomore Allison Fluker Saw action in all five games with four starts, hitting a blistering .455, going 5-for-11 with three RBI, a double, triple, two runs scored, two walks, and eight total bases.
• Also posted a 1.298 OPS and 727 slugging percentage.
• Went 1-for-1 with a double and a walk in Detroit Mercy's 2-1 walk-off win over Drake.
• Sophomore Wendy Ketola hit .333 with two hits, three runs, and an RBI.
 
Game 5: Detroit Mercy 8 vs WIU 9 – Feb. 8, 2026:
• Fluker went 2-for-4 with two RBI, two runs scored, a triple, and a walk, while Fessler hit 2-for-3 with a pair of RBI.
• Sophomore Madeline Hallman went 1-for-3 with an RBI, run, and two walks, while Ketola hit 1-for-2 with a pair of runs and two walks.
• Sophomore Natalie Babcock also went 1-for-3 with a double. Sophomore Mia Hubbell added one of Detroit Mercy's (1-4) eight total hits, while junior Claire Borg had an RBI.
• In the circle, Schultz went 6.0 innings with two strikeouts. Sophomore Erin Flynn picked up the loss in relief, allowing four runs in the bottom of the seventh.
 
Game 4: Detroit Mercy 4 vs DePaul 6 – Feb. 7, 2026:
• Senior Trinity Fessler and sophomore Allison Fluker each hit 2-for-4 with an RBI.
 
Game 3: Detroit Mercy 0 vs Valparaiso (5 inn.) 11 – Feb. 7, 2026:
• After Valpo moved ahead 11-0, sophomore Mia Hubbell recorded UDM's lone hit of the game in the fourth inning.
 
Game 2: Detroit Mercy 2 vs DePaul 8 – Feb. 6, 2026:
• Sophomore Abby Klaft went 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI
• Sophomore Josalyn Dietlin hit 1-for-2 with an RBI.
• Freshmen Hannah Schlachter and Jaycee Reams each recorded their first career hit, with Addison Pokley drawing three walks.
 
Game 1: Detroit Mercy 2 vs Drake 1 – Feb. 6, 2026:
• Ketola up clutch with a walk-off single in the bottom of the seventh inning, giving the Titans a 2-1 win over Drake, giving the Titans their first season-opening win since the COVID-19 shortened season in 2020.
• Freshman Savannah Schultz picked the perfect time to connect on her first collegiate hit with a solo home run, tying the game in the bottom of the sixth inning to set up the dramatic walk-off ending.
• After only surrendering an unearned run in the first inning, sophomore Erin Flynn was lights out in the circle, tossing 6.0 shutout innings with seven strikeouts and three scattered hits to pick up the complete game win.
• Junior Jada Davis went 1-for-3 with a triple, while sophomores Madeline Hallman and Natalie Babcock each hit 1-for-3.
 
2026 Team Breakdown:
 
Key Returning Starters (7)
Junior and 2025 #HLSB All-League Second Team selection Jada Davis (41 games started), sophomore Wendy Ketola (38), sophomore Allison Fluker (37), sophomore Natalie Babcock (34), sophomore Abby Klaft (30), senior junior Trinity Fessler (30), junior Madeline Hallman (27).
 
Davis 2025 Highlights:
• Davis started in 41 of 42 games played at shortstop leading the team in batting average (.294), hits (37), RBI (20), doubles (8), triples (3 – 7th HL), home runs (4), runs (18), total bases (63), multi-hit games (9), three-hit games (2), OPS (.853), and slugging percentage (.500).
• Hit .500 going 5-for-10 with a double and three runs, giving UDM its first Metro Series win over Oakland since 2019.
• Posted a .444 average going 4-for-9 with a pair of doubles and three RBI, helping the Titans secure their second consecutive #HLSB series win for the first time since the 2019 season.
• Belted her first homer of the season against Samford (3/7), second at PFW (3/27), third vs NKU (4/18), and team-best fourth home run of the season with a two-run shot at Green Bay (4/27).
• Posted .300 average with a home run vs NKU (4/19).
• Hit .261 with a home run, triple, double, and four RBI at Alabama A&M DH (3/6) and the UNA Tournament.
• Hit .250 with a double and two triples against Butler (2/8) and St. Thomas (2/9) with three RBI at DePaul Rosemont Tournament.
 
Other Key Returners (5):
Redshirt junior Lauren Creon (16), junior Claire Borg (15), junior Liv Peterson (14), junior Alexis Hoff (13), sophomore Aleah Tanguay (12).
 
Fresh Faces (8):
The Titans have eight newcomers in Jenna Higgins, Katie Modrzejewski, Aubrey Myer, Addison Pokley, Jaycee Reams, Savannah Schultz, Hannah Schlachter, and Alyssa Strohl, who will look to make an immediate impact.
 
In the Circle:
2025 Highlights:
• Sophomore and #HLSB All-Freshman Team selection Erin Flynn returns to lead the Titans in the circle.
• Appeared in 24 games with 16 starts, leading the team in wins (5), strikeouts (60), complete games (5), shutouts (1), saves (1), and innings pitched (96.1)
• Was straight dealin' once again in the circle as she locked down a two-hit complete game win for her fifth of the season, allowing only one run with a career-high eight strikeouts to lead Detroit Mercy to a 7-1 game one win over Northern Kentucky (4/18).
• Named Under Armour® #HLSB Pitcher of the Week announced by the league (4/15) after posting a 2-1 record for the week, recording two complete game wins with a save in relief, tossing 17.0 scoreless innings out of 20.0 total for a .070 ERA with 13 strikeouts.
• Recorded her first career save, pitching 2.0 scoreless innings while allowing only two hits in UDM's 4-3 win over arch-rival Oakland (4/8).
• Locked down her second complete game win of the week and fourth win of the season, going 7.0 innings (6.0 scoreless), allowing only one run on five scattered hits while matching a career-high six strikeouts, leading Detroit Mercy to a doubleheader sweep over Robert Morris with a 4-1 game two win (4/13).
• The DH sweep over the Colonials gave the Titans back-to-back #HLSB series wins for the first time since the 2019 season.
• Was lights out in the circle, going the distance, tossing 8.0 scoreless innings with five strikeouts, picking up her third win of the season in the series-clinching 1-0 game vs Oakland (4/9), helping the Titans secure their first Metro Series win over the Golden Grizzlies since the 2019 season.
• Added her first career save, tossing 2.0 scoreless innings while allowing only two hits vs Oakland (4/8).
 
2025 Season Highlights: Took it back to 2019:
• Detroit Mercy posted 4-3 and 1-0 Metro Series wins over arch-rival Oakland, giving the Titans their first overall series win over the Golden Grizzlies since 2019.
• UDM followed that performance with a 9-5 and 4-1 doubleheader sweep at Robert Morris, which gave the Titans back-to-back #HLSB series wins for the first time since the 2019 season.
 
The Skipper Returns:
• Head Coach Dan Vitale returns for his third season at the helm of the Detroit Mercy softball program. Vitale returned to the program in 2023 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:
Kara Vitale '19 (Director of Softball Operations):
• Kara Vitale returns to the Detroit Mercy softball program as the Director of Softball Operations after a four-year career as a softball student-athlete at UDM. Head Coach Dan Vitale
 
Vitale was a catcher for the Titans from 2015-2019 and a member of the 2019 Horizon League Championship Team, earning a Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing. Before her collegiate career, she also worked as a hitting and catching instructor at Vitale's Perfect Game, helping young athletes before continuing her own playing career at the Division I level.
 
Outside of softball, Vitale has built a career in the healthcare field. Since 2019, she has served as a Registered Nurse at the Children's Hospital of Michigan, where she works both as an Internal Resource Pool Nurse and a SWAT Nurse, providing specialized support across multiple units. A graduate of Stevenson High School, Vitale was a decorated student-athlete, earning All-County, All-Conference, All-District, All-Region, Academic All-State, and All-State honors during her career.
 
Dani Keighley (Graduate Assistant Coach):
Dani Keighley joined the Detroit Mercy softball coaching staff as a Graduate Assistant Coach. With a proven record of athletic excellence and academic achievement after an accomplished playing career, Keighley brings a strong competitive drive, a deep understanding of the game, and a strong leadership background to the coaching staff. She will be pursuing a Master of Business Administration (MBA) Degree at UDM.
 
A standout third baseman at the University of Northwestern Ohio, Keighley was a four-year starter and one of the most decorated athletes in program history. Keighley holds several UNOH program records, including single-season RBI (70) and multi-RBI games in a season (17), both of which rank first in school history. She also posted a .622 career slugging percentage, which is the second-highest mark in program history. A respected team leader, she served as captain for the 2024–25 season and was honored as UNOH's Female Athlete of the Year.
 
She led the team to a 2024-25 Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference (WHAC) Tournament Championship and NCAA regional appearance. Keighley graduated in 2025 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Sport Marketing and Management.
 
2026 #HLWBB Preseason Poll:
Detroit Mercy was picked to finish seventh in the 2026 #HLSB Preseason Poll announced by the league office and voted on by the league's nine coaches. The Titans received 16 overall points and one first-place vote.