AUBURNDALE, Fla. – The Davenport baseball team has been busy over the last seven days during their spring trip to RussMatt Invitational held in central Florida. The Panthers fell 6-5 on the final day (Mar. 4) on the trip to Walsh (2-4). The Panthers tried to pull off a comeback for the ages with three runs in the bottom of the ninth, but stranded the tying run on second.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Panthers struck first in the bottom of the second as Brian Sobieski hit his fourth homer of the season to lead off the inning. The Cavaliers were set down six straight times by Justin Palmbos before a leadoff double in the top of the third by Joey Holiga. Walsh tied the game at 1 when Marcus Bobb hit a sacrifice fly.
 
The Cavaliers then scored twice in the top of the fifth to take a 3-1 lead. Holiga reached on a fielding error but was quickly forced out at second. Ross Etgen stole second base and Cobe Hutchison walked. Eric Conner then hit a fly ball to center which was misplayed allowing two runs to score.
 
Davenport put a pair of runners on base in the bottom of the fifth as Austin Lansky singled and Nolan Bryant walked. The inning ended on a strikeout by Austin Petravicius. DU scored once in the sixth on a RBI double by Oscar Heredia which scored Anthony DiPonio. Walsh used a three-run seventh inning to increase their lead to 6-2. Etgen walked and Hutchison doubled him home to start the rally. Conner singled home another run and Andrew Czech had a RBI double.
 
The Cavaliers went to M.J. Nara out of the bullpen in the bottom of the ninth. Head coach Kevin Tidey went to his bench to spark a rally and it worked as Andrew Figueroa singled followed by Jake Bozzo drawing a walk. Noah Marcoux had an infield single to load the bases. Nolan Bryant then singled home Figueroa to make it 6-3. Zac Wilson was hit by a pitch to force in another run with one out. Sobieski lifted a sacrifice fly to left as Bozzo scored the fifth run. DiPonio grounded out to third to end the game.
 
INSIDE THE BOX
Palmbos (LP, 1-1) 6.1 IP, 6 H, 4 ER, 2 BB, 5 K
Bryant 2-for-4, 2B, RBI, BB
Sobieski 1-for-4, HR, SF, 2 RBI
Wilson 2-for-4, 2B, RBI, HBP
Both teams left 10 runners on base
 
UP NEXT
The Panthers will get a much-needed break and resume play on Friday, Mar. 16 at Drury University in Springfield, Missouri at U.S. Baseball Park. The teams will play the first of four games over the weekend.