Panther Baseball Takes Down DIII Comets of Olivet College
Box Score Box Score
OLIVET, Mich. – Davenport stepped out of WHAC play today with a single nine-inning affair with the Comets of Olivet College. That Panthers used 12 unanswered runs over a two-inning span to take the contest from the DIII Comets by a final of 17-6.
Davenport attacked early and often from an offensive point of view today as they scored in six of their first seven at-bats. After two innings of play the Panthers led 3-0 over Olivet College. In the third inning Olivet got on the board when they scored twice to cut the Panther lead to 3-2. After fourth and fifth innings that saw DU score a run each at-bat, the Comets struck with four runs in their fifth inning at-bat to take their first lead of the day at 6-5.
After the fifth however, the route was on, as the Panthers would score 12 runs over two innings to put the game away.
Austin Licon was a major factor offensively for the Panthers as he went 4 for 6 at the plate scoring two runs and driving in two RBI in the game.
Derrick Gentile also had a quality day for Davenport going 2 for 5 while scoring twice and pushing across two RBI.
Drew Kennedy had a solid afternoon as well going 2 for 5, scoring twice and driving home three RBI.
Eric Cummings also continued his strong offensive surge as he went 2 for 3 on the afternoon scoring twice and driving in an RBI. However, the offensive leader for the Panthers today was
Cam Cooper who was 5 for 7 from the plate, including a double, while scoring four runs and driving in four RBI.
Cam Cooper tied two school records today with five hits in a single game (Spykerman, B. vs. Hanover College 2/24/09) and four runs scored (Collins, M. at Berea College 3/8/09).
Overall the Panthers put up 19 hits on their way to 17 runs. Today was the Panthers eighth time scoring in double digits on the year and the second time this season they have scored 17 runs (a school single game record) in a game, the other time coming versus Concordia on March 21st in a 17-12 victory.
Zach Liebman got the start in today's game, he went three innings giving up five hits, two runs, one walk, and struck out two.
Ryan Butzer however would earn the win for his efforts going three and a third innings giving up one hit, no runs, no walks, and striking out two. Butzer is now 3-0 on the season.
Post-Game Quotes – Kevin Tidey
On pitching efforts of Ryan Butzer – Butz has been one of our most consistent guys on the mound and is doing so as a freshman. He has been able to go out and throw strikes, not just because he has good stuff, but because he is hitting the corners with his pitches.
Overall thoughts on today's victory – I was disappointed with the energy we came out of the gate with. I thought that it wasn't until after we allowed them to come back and take the lead on us that our guys showed some life. After that I was pleased with our energy, we just need to have that energy from the start.
Post-Game Notes – The Panthers are now 11 games over .500 with an overall 22-11 mark on the season... The Panthers may have set a school record for number of batters hit by the opposing pitcher today with six earning the free pass, Mike Allen individually taking three of them… DU returns to WHAC play over the Easter weekend with double headers on Saturday and Monday versus Aquinas… Check out www.dupanthers.com to follow the Panthers all season long via LiveStats.
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