Davenport University Athletics

Baseball Pulls Curtain on Regular Season With Seven Games This Week

4/21/2014 5:37:00 PM

By Rick Hoskin | @hoskin22

Weekly Notes | The DAN
 
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – As it approaches the final week of the regular season schedule, the Davenport baseball team will play six of the seven remaining contests on the road against Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference foes. Before hoping on the bus, the Panthers will close the home slate with a non-conference game against Olivet Tuesday at 7 p.m. DU's road stand begins with a short drive to Kimble Stadium to face Aquinas Wednesday at 2 p.m. Following their game at the Saints, the Panthers drive across the state to Ann Arbor and play a four-game set with Concordia starting Friday at 2 p.m.
 
vs. Olivet
Series: Single 9-Inning Game
Date: April 21
First Pitch: 7 p.m.
Location: Grand Rapids, Mich. (Farmers Athletic Complex)
Internet Coverage: Live Video/Stats (The DAN)
Twitter: @DUAthletics | @DU_BSBALL
Facebook: DUAthletics | DU Baseball
 
at Aquinas
Series: 9/7 Inning doubleheader
Dates: April 23
First Pitches: 2 p.m.
Location: Grand Rapids, Mich. (Kimble Stadium)
Internet Coverage: Live Video/Stats
Twitter: @DUAthletics | @DU_BSBALL
Facebook: DUAthletics | DU Baseball
 
at Concordia
Series: Two 9/7 Inning doubleheader
Dates: April 25-26
First Pitches: 2 p.m. (Friday)/1 p.m. (Saturday)
Location: Ann Arbor, Mich. (Concordia Baseball Field)
Internet Coverage: TBD
Twitter: @DUAthletics | @DU_BSBALL
Facebook: DUAthletics | DU Baseball
 
A Quick Look at Olivet
The Comets, an NCAA Division III school, are on a six-game losing skid, having recently lost four straight to Kalamazoo. Olivet's offense has combined for a .244 average and a .285 slugging percentage, both the lowest out of the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association. Although Drew Thompson and Tom Kort have not been putting up the batting average, the two are the leaders in RBI with 15 and 14, respectively. The Comets' 6.79 ERA ranks last in the MIAA. Colin Boak leads the effort out of the throwing corps with a 3.86 ERA and 20 strikeouts in 37.1 innings of work during seven starts.
 
The Last Time vs. Olivet
Davenport used a 6-run sixth inning to run away to a 10-1 victory over Olivet in their last meeting at the Farmers Athletic Complex last season. EJ Grochowalski had two hits including a double and a pair of RBI to lead all returning Panthers. Cam Cooper also had a double for his only hit on the evening while scoring twice. Corey Murphy threw six solid innings striking out four and allowing the one run before turning it over to the bullpen. The Comets sent Stephen Botti to throw the first two innings before turning it over to the bullpen the rest of the way. Head coach Ted Mahan called for seven pitchers out of the bullpen.
 
A Quick Look at the Aquinas
The Saints are coming off an 8-7 non-conference defeat to crosstown rival Calvin last Thursday. The Saints tried to recover from a 4-run deficit in the first inning but the Knights scored two runs in both the third and seventh innings. Brendan Penny suffered the loss despite striking out three in three innings of work.  Brad Sliss continues to lead the Saints offensively with a .351 batting average and eight doubles. Despite hitting .213 on the year, Mark Lepri paces the Doug Greenslate's ballclub with 17 RBI. In fact, eight Saints are in double figures in the RBI department.
 
The Last Time vs. Aquinas
Davenport had to settle with a split against its crosstown rivals Aquinas in their last meeting at the Farmers Athletic Complex three weeks ago. The Panthers tallied a season-high 21 hits and used three Saint errors to win game one by the mercy rule 13-3, but the rhythm had turned over to Aquinas in evening cap as the Saints took advantage of four hits and one Panther error to rally and win game two 3-2.
 
A Quick Look at Concordia
After playing six games on the road, the Cardinals returned home last week only to get swept all four games to Northwestern Ohio. Concordia's closest opportunity to salvage a victory in the series was game two. The Cardinals scored five runs in the first inning and added another in the third but couldn't hold on as the Racers rallied and won in eight innings 7-6. Nate McHugh is the only Cardinal to have started and appear in all 41 games this season, hitting a team-leading .351 with eight doubles and a triple. McHugh and Jeremy Robinson are also the only Cardinals to reach the 20 barrier in RBI with 22 and 25, respectively. Mike Melcher has thrown the most innings out of the Cardinal pitching staff, compiling 41.1 innings of work. He also maintains a 2.83 ERA with 27 strikeouts.
 
The Last Time vs. Concordia
Davenport swept Concordia all four games at the Farmers Athletic Complex in their last meeting a year ago. Among returners, Cam Cooper had five hits while knocking in five RBI. Jordan Schumann also had a 5-hit weekend while stealing two bags. Ryan Butzer checked into three games in the series, earning a save in game three. He threw 5.1 innings of relief and struck out three. Corey Sessions had the best outing among starters, allowing one earned run on five hits and a walk but the highlight of the game was striking out nine in five innings.
 
Baseball Contact: Rick Hoskin | 616-871-6180 | rhoskin@davenport.edu
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