CALEDONIA, Mich. – The Davenport baseball team hosted Cornerstone University in their 2019 home opener and improved to 11-3 overall with a come-from-behind 7-6 win over the Golden Eagles at Farmers Insurance Athletic Complex. 
 
How it Happened: The visitors jumped ahead 5-0 in the top of the second and the big blow was a grand slam by Jarod Burton off DU starter Taylor Turner with two outs. Turner lasted three innings and allowed five runs and five hits. He did strike out five batters in the no-decision.

Davenport started chipping away with two runs in the bottom of the fourth. Jacob Buchberger hit a lead-off home run his third of the season. Noah Marcoux followed with a two-out solo home run his third of the season.

DU added another run in the bottom of the fifth as Buchberger delivered a two-out RBI single to left which scored Jimmy Filipski who reached on a walk. Aaron Krupansky gave Cornerstone a 6-3 lead in the top of the sixth on a sacrifice fly. James Rogers had a strong outing out of the bullpen going four innings and allowing just that one run with a walk and four strikeouts.

The Panthers tied it up with three runs in the bottom of the seventh. Kamrin Markwardt tripled to start the inning and then Jake Bozzo came off the bench for a pinch-hit, two-run home run his second of the season. Down just one now, Buchberger singled and stole second. Nolan Bryant followed with a single to score Buchberger.

Evan Maize entered in the eighth inning for Davenport on the mound. He stranded two runners at second and third to keep it tied. Maize again wiggled out of trouble in the top of the ninth as pinch runner Chase Mitchell was thrown out at the plate with one out on a fielder's choice. Alan LaBov took the mound in the bottom of the ninth for Cornerstone after entering in the seventh.

Filipski singled to start the inning and took second on a fielding error. Cobe Huizenga pinch ran for Filipski at second base. Markwardt moved him over to third on a sacrifice bunt. Darren Rydzewski pinch hit and drew a walk. Buchberger also reached on a walk to load the bases with one out. A force out at home was the second out and Hunter Ruhstorfer came up. He was down 0-2 in the count with two outs and battled to deliver the walk-off single to shallow left center as Rydzewski scored the winning run from third.

Game Notes: Maize improved to 1-1 on the mound in two innings of work. LaBov falls to 0-1 on the mound for Cornerstone. He went 2.1 innings and allowed two hits. Davenport improved to 17-2 all-time against Cornerstone. It was the first time since April 20 of last year at Tiffin to hit three home runs in a game for the Panthers. Buchberger and Marcoux each stretched their hit streak to five games and Buchberger now leads the team with seven multi-hit games this season.

On Deck: Davenport will welcome Cornerstone (6-12) again tomorrow at 3:00 p.m. for another 9-inning contest.