Box Score
BARBOURVILLE, Ky. - Davenport was not able to hold onto a slim lead early in the game as the host Union Bulldogs pulled out a 5-2 win on Sunday afternoon in the 9-inning game. The Panther bats continued to struggle on the opening weekend as DU posted a 1-2 record in Kentucky.
The Panthers took a 1-0 lead in the third inning when Derrick Gentile (Sturgis, Mich.) connected on an RBI double scoring Chris VanGessel (Grandville, Mich.). The lead didn't last long though as the Bulldogs brought a pair of runs across in the fourth inning. The two runs were scored thanks to a hit-batter and an error later in the inning as DU trailed for the first time in the game.
Davenport came back strong in the fifth inning when Brandon Bongard (Grand Rapids, Mich.) singled in Travis Laver (Holland, Mich.) to even the lgame at 2-2. Another hit-batter in the bottom half of the inning allowed Union to take a 3-2 lead in which they never relinquished.
A homerun in the bottom of the sixth and another run in the seventh proved to not matter for the Bulldogs as the Panthers were unable to bring home any runners eventually losing 5-2.
Newcomer
Matt Loomis (Alma, Mich.) took the loss falling to 0-1 on the year as the Davenport offense managed only seven hits in the 9-inning contest.
Derrick Gentile (Sturgis, Mich.) continued his solid start at the plate finishing 2-4 with one RBI.
Davenport will now have a week off before heading to Florida where they will play seven different schools in a seven day span. The games will feature live stats and many with live audio. The DU website will have more details at the end of the week.
