LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Davenport continued their non-conference schedule with a doubleheader against Bellarmine. The Panthers were on the Knights home field for the two games, but Davenport paid no attention to that. The offense lit up the Bellarmine pitchers, scoring a combined 17 run over the two games. Mallory Teunissen and Ellie Muilenburg controlled the games on the mound, each picking up a win.
 
Game 1-Sunday, March 10 at 1:00 p.m.
Final Score: Davenport University-8 | Bellarmine-0 (6 innings)
Location: Louisville, Ky.
Records: DU (6-8) | BU (9-9)


 
Inside The Box
Gabby Palazzolo (2-4)
Alexa Flores (2-4, RBI)
Abby Merice (1-3, 2 R, HBP)
Rachel Griffin (2-3, 2 R, RBI, BB, HR)
Selene Pauley (1-4, R, RBI)
Alexis Koza (3-3, 2 R, 3 RBI, HR)
Teunissen (W, 4-3) 6 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 4 BB, 9 SO
 
The scoring started off with a bang for the Panthers. With two runners on, in the top of the second, Koza stepped up to the plate and homered to left field. The three-run shot gave Davenport an early 3-0 lead. The offensive onslaught continued in the fourth inning. Griffin hit a solo shot left field, giving DU a 4-0 lead. Later in the inning, Crawford reached on a fielding error and then Koza and Pauley scored on the play. In the fifth inning, Pauley singled to left field, scoring Merice. Davenport added another run in the sixth when Flores singled up the middle and Kennedy Crawford scored. Teunissen was in control the entire game, only allowing three hits and striking out nine batters over the six innings.
 
Game 2-Sunday, March 10 at 3:00 p.m.
Final Score: Davenport University-9 | Bellarmine-3
Location: Louisville, Ky.
Records: DU (7-8) | BU (9-10)
 
Inside The Box
Palazzolo (1-4, R)
Crawford (1-3, 2 R, RBI, 2B)
Mariah Cura (1-3, R, 3 RBI, 2B, SF)
Griffin (2-4, R, 5 RBI, HR)
Lauren French (0-0, 2 R, BB, SB, HBP)
Ellie Muilenburg (W, 3-1) 6.1 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 1 SO
Emma Miller 0.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, SO
 
The offense didn't let up in game two for Davenport. The Panthers scored two or more runs in four of the seven innings. Griffin got things started in the first inning with a single to right field, Flores and Crawford scored on the play. In the second, Crawford double to left field and scored French. Shortly after, Cura hit a sac fly to center field and score Palazzolo. Cura again was clutch with runners in scoring position, she hit a double through the left side that scored French and Crawford. The Panthers got three runs in the seventh when Griffin hit a three-run homer to left field, giving Davenport a 9-0 lead. The Knights finally got on the board after going 12 innings without scoring a run. Miller came in during the bottom of the seventh to help close out the game. She got the final two outs of the game to seal the deal.
 
Coaches Corner
"Two great team wins! Loved our energy in the dugout along with our execution at the plate." – Head Coach McCall Salmon.
 
Story by: Devin Steiner
 
Picture credit: Paul Penders