SAUGET, Ill. – Senior right-hander Evan Marquardt tossed seven strong innings and Jacob Buchberger and Nolan Bryant each left the yard in an 8-2 win over Hillsdale on Saturday. Game 2 was canceled due to a wind advisory. Davenport improves to 8-3 overall while Hillsdale is now 3-5.
 
How it Happened: Davenport took the field for the first time after their Florida trip. The offense was stout right off the bat with a pair of runs in the top of the first. Buchberger was hit by a pitch and Bryant hit a homer to right field for a quick 2-0 advantage.

Hillsdale could not solve Marquardt. He stranded two runners in the bottom of the first and gave up a one-out double in the second. After that he retired eight straight batters and got another run of support in the top of the third. Buchberger homered to start the inning with a shot to left field.

DU started to put it away with two unearned runs in the top of the seventh for a 5-0 lead. Bryant doubled to leadoff the eighth and Alex Huard later had an RBI groundout to score Bryant.

Davenport notched two more runs in the top of the ninth. Buchberger walked with one out and Bryant followed with a walk. Buchberger and Bryant each stole a base and then Noah Marcoux drove them in with a single to right. Max Swan gave up two runs in the bottom of the ninth as James Krick hit a two-run homer.

Panther Notes: Marquardt has struck out 28 in his last three starts. Buchberger has now hit homers in back-to-back games. Bryant hit a homer for the first time in 60 games after going yard in the first game of the 2018 season. 
 
On Deck: Davenport and Hillsdale will conclude the weekend with a pair of scheduled 9-inning games starting at noon central tomorrow in Sauget, Illinois.