WARRENSBURG, Mo. - It might have seemed improbable before the day started but Ricky Clark took the ball against #3 Central Missouri on Tuesday with just 2.1 innings of work in his first season at Davenport in the shortened 2020 season. Clark showed his promise by throwing 7.1 innings and allowing just four hits with three strikeouts in the victory over the Mules. He threw 95 pitches in his first action since March 8 against Hillsdale and got his second career win as a Panther.

Cal Djuraskovic picked up another save in consecutive games and never had a save until this season after 21 career appearances entering this season. Djuraskovic inherited a mess in the bottom of the 8th as the Mules had the bases loaded with one out. He got a pop out to second and then a fly out to right to end the threat. In the ninth inning, he gave up a one-out double but then struck out the next two hitters to perserve the win.

Davenport broke a 1-1 tie with five runs in the top of the 4th. Ben Mets had a one-out single followed by Carson Eby with a single through the left side of the infield. The Mules made a costly error off the bat of Gaetano Vallone which loaded the bases. Aaron Cardoza, who didn't play yesterday, delivered a two-run scoring double to left center for a 3-1 lead. Christian Petre followed with a bunt RBI single and then stole second. Nolan Anspaugh had a RBI single to left for a 5-1 lead. Noah Marcoux concluded the scoring plays in the inning with a sacrifice fly to center.

Anspaugh went 2-for-5 and Petre went 2-for-4 as the Panthers who had multiple hits. Cardoza's two RBI led the team. Six different Panthers scored a run in the contest. Conor Dryer took the loss for the Mules and lasted 3.1 innings. Dryer allowed seven hits and four earned runs with no walks and five strikeouts.

"That was a huge win for the guys and our program," said head coach Kevin Tidey, who won his 330th game at Davenport. "Being tested by a quality program like Central Missouri will only help prepare us for the remainder of our season. I was really proud of the guys!"