CLERMONT, Fla. – Davenport gutted out two more wins down in Florida, improving their NTC Spring Games record to 9-1. The Panthers defeated Point Park University 2-1 and then Lake Erie College 4-3. In the second game against Lake Erie College, Davenport trailed 3-1 heading into the bottom of the seventh inning. The Panthers strung together five hits with no outs in the bottom of the seventh, scoring three runs for the walk-off win. Davenport went 6-1 against NCAA Division II opponents over the last week.
 
Game 1-Thursday, March 1 at 9:00 a.m.
Final Score: Davenport University-2 | Point Park University-1
Location: Clermont, Fla.
Records: DU (10-2) | PPU (2-5)

Inside The Box
Lauren French (1-3, RBI, SF)
Madison Jewell (0-1, R, SB, 2 HBP)
Briana Allen (0-2, R, HBP)
Alexis Koza (2-2)
McKenzie Rowe (2-3, RBI, 2 SB)
Mallory Teunissen (W, 6-2) 7 IP, 5 H, R, ER, BB, 3 SO
 
In a low scoring game Davenport got the defensive stops when they were needed. The Panthers held the Pioneers scoreless for six out of the seven innings, only giving up one run to Point Park in the fourth inning. Davenport scored two runs in the top of the second inning and held the lead throughout the game. Rowe batted the first run in with a single to left field that scored Jewell from third. Then, with the bases still loaded, French flied out to center field and Allen tagged up on third and came home for the score. Teunissen only gave up one earned run during the seven innings that she pitched, and her ERA currently sits at 0.84 for the season.


 
Game 2-Thursday, March 1 at 11:30 a.m.
Final Score: Davenport University-4 | Lake Erie College-3
Location: Clermont, Fla.
Records: DU (11-2) | LEC (2-5)

Inside The Box
Selene Pauley (1-4, RBI)
Alexa Flores (1-4, RBI)
Jewell (2-3, R, RBI, HBP)
Rylie Kalina (2-3)
Allen (1-2, RBI, SH)
Koza (2-3, R)
Ellie Muilenburg (W, 5-0) 7 IP, 7 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 3 BB, SO
 
Lake Erie held the advantage throughout the majority of this game, all the way up until the bottom of the seventh inning. The Storm scored two runs in the third and then another in the top of the sixth to lead 3-0. Davenport scored one run from Jewell in the bottom of the sixth to cut the lead down to two runs. The Panthers rallied off five hits and a reach on an error in the bottom of the seventh to come away with the victory. Koza started things off with a single to center field, and then Kennedy Crawford reached on an error by the short stop. Next up was French, who singled up the middle to load the bases. With the bases loaded and no outs, Pauley came to the played and hit a single to left field, scoring Koza. With Davenport down one run and the bases still loaded, Flores hit a single through the right side that scored Crawford, tying up the game 3-3. Still with no out and the bases loaded, Jewell came to the batter's box and delivered the walk-off hit to third base, scoring French from third!



Coaches Corner
"Two great team wins today" explained Head Coach McCall Salmon. "Extremely proud of our energy and effort all week from everyone on this team!"
 
Up Next
The Panthers still have four non-conference doubleheaders before they open conference play on March 21. Davenport will play Walsh University, the University of Findlay, Kentucky Wesleyan College, and Bellarmine University.
 
Story by: Devin Steiner

Picture credit: Tanner Johnson