SANDUSKY, Ohio. – The Panthers opened their first-ever GLIAC Tournament in the best way possible, winning both their games on day one. Davenport, who has the number two seed in the tournament, opened with Northwood in the first game and cruised to a 10-2 win in only six innings of play. In the second game, the Panthers were met by the number three seed, Saginaw Valley State. Davenport had their hands full as extra innings were needed in the eighth game of the tournament. Senior McKenzie Rowe stepped up when the team needed her most, hitting a game-winning single to center field and scoring Alexis Koza for the 5-4 win in eight innings.
 
Game 4-Friday, May 4 at 12:40 p.m. (GLIAC Tournament)
Final Score: Davenport University-10 | Northwood University-2
Location: Sandusky, Ohio
Records: DU (33-19) | NU (24-22)
 
Inside The Box
Lauren French (1-4, R, 2 RBI, SB)
Alexa Flores (1-3, R, RBI, BB, 2B)
Rachel Griffin (3-4, 3 RBI, 2B)
Koza (1-2, R, RBI, BB)
Kennedy Crawford (2-3, 2 R)
Rowe (1-2, 2 R, 2 RBI, HBP)
Mallory Teunissen (W, 22-8) 6 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 7 SO


 
The first game of the day for Davenport was a true story of how weather can affect a game. Northwood scored two runs in the top of the second inning and led for a majority of the game. In the fifth inning a giant rainstorm hit the Sports Force Parks fields and the game delayed for about 15-20 minutes. After both teams got warmed up and back on the field the Panthers flipped a switch. Davenport scored six runs in the bottom of the fifth and four in the bottom of the sixth, ending the game in six innings due to the mercy rule. Rowe got things started for the Panthers with a single to left center, scoring Crawford and Koza to tie the game 2-2. Rowe then scored the game-winning run one batter later, she advanced to third off a single by Selene Pauley and advanced home after an error by the shortstop. The next two runs in the inning were scored by Pauley and Flores. In the bottom of the sixth French and Griffin each drove in two runs to end the game early. Griffin had the last hit of the game, she hit a double to left field scoring French and Rowe.
 
Game 8-Friday, May 4 at 5:30 p.m. (GLIAC Tournament)
Final Score: Davenport University-5 | Saginaw Valley State University-4
Location: Sandusky, Ohio
Records: DU (34-19) | SVSU (26-24)
 
Inside The Box
Pauley (0-2, R, 2 BB)
Griffin (2-4, R, 2B)
Briana Allen (2-3, 2 R, RBI, BB, 2B)
Koza (2-4, R)
Crawford (0-3, 2 RBI, SF)
M. Teunissen (W, 23-8) 8 IP, 9 H, 4 R, 4 ER, BB, 6 SO


 
The second game of the afternoon was a back and forth battle for the entirety of the game. Davenport got on the board first, scoring two runs in the second inning. Griffin scored the initial run of the game off a double to right center by Allen. Later on in the inning, Crawford reached first on a fielding error by the shortstop and Allen scored. Saginaw Valley tied up the game 2-2 in the fourth inning when Becky Corbett double to right field, ground-rule, and scored two runs. The tie was broken in the bottom of the fifth when Flores doubled to right center and scored Pauley. The Cardinals responded with a run in the top of the sixth to tie the game 3-3. Neither team scored in the seventh and the game went into extra innings. In the top of the eighth the Cardinals scored one run, putting pressure on the DU offense heading into the bottom part of the inning. Davenport didn't flinch as they scored two runs to win in walk-off fashion. The game-tying run was scored by Allen off a sac fly by Crawford to center field. With two outs and Koza on third base, Rowe stepped up to the plate. The senior delivered with one of the most important hits in her DU career. Rowe hit a single to center field and score Koza to win 5-4 in walk-off fashion!
 
Up Next
Davenport is one of two teams to go undefeated on day one of the tournament and will play the other undefeated team. The Panthers will face Grand Valley State at 12 p.m. in game 11 of the tournament. The winner of the game advances to Sunday and a chance to play for the Championship, while the loser has to play again at 2 p.m.
 
Story by: Devin Steiner
 
Picture credit: Devin Steiner