UNIVERSITY CENTER, Mich. - Trailing Saginaw Valley State 6-2 in the top of the seventh inning of game one on Tuesday, Davenport scored five runs to take a 7-6 lead and begin the 2021 GLIAC season 1-0. Game two was tied 4-4 in the top of the fourth before being called due to darkness and will be finished when the Cardinals come to Caledonia on April 17.

The visitors' half of the seventh was a hectic one that started with a single to left field off the bat of Rachel Griffin. Following a sacrifice bunt from Gabby Palazzolo that moved Griffin up to third, Rylie Kalina scored her with a double to center. Then came back-to-back singles by Lindsay Goodman and Mariah Cura that loaded up the bases for Anelise Worden and a new Saginaw Valley State pitcher.

Worden kept the line moving as she reached on an error by the new pitcher, Kalina scored, and then Alexis Koza hit a base knock to right that brought in Goodman. Next up was pinch-hitter Addison Binney, who drew the bases loaded walk to score the game-tying run, Cura, before Ellie Muilenburg singled to right, scored Worden and gave Davenport the lead for good.

Back in the top of the first, Goodman gave the Panthers an early 2-0 advantage with her third homerun of the season and scored Griffin in the process. The Cardinals proceeded to take the lead, though, with three longballs of their own including a solo shot in the third, a three-run blast in the fourth and a two-run homerun in the sixth.

In the circle, Muilenburg (4-3) struck out five batters and walked none in her sixth complete game of the season and 33rd of her career.

Story by: Cooper Weidenthaler