Late Comeback Not Enough; Panthers Split with Bethel College
Game 1 Box Score |
Game 2 Box Score
AUBURNDALE, Fla. – Davenport would be unable to come back from an early 8-3 deficit in game two to complete the sweep of Bethel College. DU is now 6-5 on the year after defeating Bethel in game one 6-2.
In game one, Davenport's
Matt Loomis (Alma, Mich.) would pitch five complete innings giving up just two hits in route to his first victory of the year. DU would record runs in the second and third before a big four run fourth.
Matt McNeil (St. Clair Shores, Mich.) would finish 2-3 from the plate with two RBI's and a run scored. Chris VanGessel (Grandville, Mich.), Drew Kennedy (Mt. Pleasant, Mich.), Brian Spykerman (Anaheim, Calif.), Rob Bolster (Blissfield, Mich.), and Travis Laver (Holland, Mich.) would each have hits in the 6-2 victory for DU.
In game two with the Pilots, Davenport would score first in the top of the first inning but eventually see themselves down 8-3 heading into the top of the third. Davenport would start to chip away at Bethel's lead with one run in the third and then four more in the fifth off a RBI single from Dan Brown (Bay City, Mich.) and a double from Drew Kennedy (Mt. Pleasant, Mich.).
Bethel would add runs themselves in the fourth and fifth to keep their lead and see the Panthers down 10-8 heading into the final two innings of play.
In the top of the sixth DU would start out with back to back singles from Chris VanGessel (Grandville, Mich.) and Brandon Bongard (Grand Rapids, Mich.). With two runners on and no outs the next three batters would strikeout and end DU's threat of scoring. In the seventh DU would once again have runners in scoring position but would be unable to push them across and see themselves fall to a final score of 10-8.
Greg Bartlett (Hemlock, Mich.) would earn the loss on the mound for the Panthers with Bongard finishing 3-4 from the plate and VanGessel and Kennedy each having two hits as well.
Davenport will be back in action tomorrow when they take on Saint Xavier at 10:00am and William Penn at 12:30pm. Both games will be played in Winter Haven with only the Saint Xavier game being broadcasted live in The Dan.
