CALEDONIA, Mich. – Davenport ended their regular season by hosting local opponent Grand Valley State University. The Lakers came into the game with the best record in the GLIAC and the number one seed in the GLIAC Tournament. The Panthers gave the Lakers everything they had in the doubleheader and almost took game two. Grand Valley State hit three home runs in game one while shutting out Davenport, but game two was a different story. Davenport lost by only one run in game two and went toe to toe with the Lakers.
 
Game 1-Monday, April 30 at 2:00 p.m.
Final Score: Davenport University-0 | Grand Valley State University-7
Location: Caledonia, Mich.
Records: DU (32-18, 17-12) | GVSU (36-7, 23-2)
 
Inside The Box
Selene Pauley (1-3)
Rachel Griffin (0-2, BB)
Briana Allen (0-2, BB)
Lauren French (0-2, HBP)
Madison Jewell (0-2, HBP)
Mallory Teunissen (L, 21-8) 6.2 IP, 9 H, 7 R, 7 ER, 2 BB, 4 SO
 
The Panthers offense had a tough task in game one, face one of the best statistical pitchers in the GLIAC. Allison Lipovsky got the nod to start game one, she led the GLIAC in ERA and total strikeouts heading into the game, and gave Davenport troubles throughout the day. The Panthers had their best opportunity to score in the bottom of the fourth. Pauley opened the inning with a single through the left side, then Griffin was walked, then Allen got walked, loading the bases with two outs. Alexis Koza stepped up to the plate and Lipovsky got her to pop up for the third out of the inning. Grand Valley State recorded three home runs in the game.
 
Game 2-Monday, April 30 at 4:15 p.m.
Final Score: Davenport University-3 | Grand Valley State University-4
Location: Caledonia, Mich.
Records: DU (32-19, 17-13) | GVSU (37-7, 24-2)
 
Inside The Box
Pauley (2-3, R, RBI, BB, 2B, SB)
Griffin (1-4, R, RBI)
Jorden Urban (1-3, R, RBI, BB, SB)
Ellie Muilenburg (L, 11-11) 7.0 IP, 9 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 3 BB, 2 SO
 
The Panthers gathered themselves in-between games one and two, coming out and almost taking a game from the number 10 team in the country. Davenport got on the board first, with a run in the bottom of the first. With Pauley on second base and two outs, Griffin was next to bat. She stepped up to the plate and singled up the middle, scoring Pauley to give DU a 1-0 lead. Muilenburg held the Lakers scoreless through three innings and gave up her first run of the game in the fourth inning. Grand Valley scored off an RBI single in the top of the fourth, tying the game 1-1. The Panthers had a response in the bottom of the inning. Pauley got walked with the bases loaded, scoring Urban. The tides turned when the Lakers got three runs off of one hit. With the bases loaded in the top of the fifth, LaTour doubled to right center and scored all three runners, giving the Lakers a 4-2 lead. Davenport responded with a run in the bottom of the fifth to put the Lakers on their heels. Urban singled to center field and scored Griffin. The Panthers had a runner in scoring position in the bottom of the sixth, but Lipovsky came in to close the game for the Lakers and took care of business. Pauley led the bottom of the sixth off with a double to right center. The next three batters were struck out swinging by Lipovsky. She struck out two more batters in the bottom of the seventh to close the game. Davenport had the bases loaded in the second, fourth, and fifth innings.
 
Up Next
The regular season has come and gone for the Panthers in their first season competing in NCAA Divison II and the GLIAC. Davenport had a fantastic first year, taking sole possession of second place in the regular season and advancing to the conference tournament. The Panthers will face Northwood University in their first game of the tournament on Friday, May 4. The game will start at 12:30 p.m. in Sandusky, Ohio.
 
Story by: Devin Steiner
 
Picture credit: Tyler Triemstra