DU Baseball and Aquinas Play to Day One Split at Kimble Stadium
Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 Game 1 Box |
Game 2 Box
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – In a renewal of Davenport's crosstown rivalry with Aquinas College, the Panthers earned a split after a tough 6-5 loss in the bottom of the ninth in game one. Game two saw a rejuvenated Panthers squad spurred by a complete game shutout by
Drew Sain to earn Davenport the 6-0 victory.
Game One
Davenport jumped out to a four run lead after a five run third inning on the strength of timely hitting.
Brandon Bongard got the offense going with a two run homerun, the highlight of the inning for DU. Bongard would go 1 for 4 in the first game with a run scored and two RBI.
Eric Cummings also proved to be a continued strong point in the Panther lineup going 2 for 3 and driving in two RBI.
Davenport would hold a one run lead going into the ninth inning, however the Panthers were unable to hold in the inning and the Saints scored two runs to win the game 6-5. Starter
Jordan Anderson would pitch four complete innings before being chased on a day that saw Anderson without his regular control.
Ryan Butzer was in line for the win after coming on in relief in the fifth inning. A couple tough bounces and softly hit balls led to a tough third out opportunity for closer
Corey Anderson. Anderson nearly sent the game to extra innings, but was unable to get a strong throw to first on a hard hit ball that bounced off Anderson towards third base ending in an Anderson throw from his knees.
Game Two
Davenport rebounded from the game one loss on the strength of the pitching performance of
Drew Sain. Sain was dominant from his opening pitch tossing a complete game shutout to earn his fourth victory on the season. Sain allowed four hits, no runs, walked three, and struck out three while getting help from the three double plays turned by his infielders.
The Panther bats didn't awake until the fifth inning when they put seven runs on the board to extend their lead to 8-0.
Eric Cummings continued his strong offensive play going 2 for 4 while scoring a run and driving in two RBI.
Jotham Woo also contributed to the Panther offense going 2 for 3, scored a run and drove in one RBI.
Brandon Bongard had a terrific game two at the plate, he went 4 for 4, scored a run and drove in an RBI.
Derrick Gentile,
Drew Kennedy, and
Jason Pierce provided solid offense from the seven, eight, and nine spots in the order. Gentile went 2 for 4, scored a run and had two RBI, Kennedy went 2 for 3 with two RBI, and Pierce went 2 for 3 with a run scored. Gentile and Pierce both had doubles in the game as well.
Post-Game Notes – The day one split pushes the Panthers to 23-12: 9-5 WHAC… Panthers are now 9-6 all-time versus Aquinas… DU faces Aquinas again Monday April 9th in another double-header; Game One has first pitch time of 2:05… Check out www.dupanthers.com to follow the Panthers all season long via LiveStats.
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