CALEDONIA, Mich. - The Davenport baseball team nearly completed a doubleheader on Saturday against Ashland before lightning in the area halted game two. The Panthers dropped a 4-2 decision in game one and are one out away from game two ending as they trail the Eagles 11-7 in the bottom of the ninth with two outs and runners on first and second. The second game will conclude tomorrow at noon followed by a nine-inning game to conclude the weekend series.
The Eagles won for the first time at Davenport in game one in a brisk 2:03 time of game in seven innings. The start time moved to 10 AM and that proved to be a wise move as the teams nearly got both games in before lightning and heavy rain started.
Garett Robberts got the Eagles off to a hot start in the top of the first inning with a three-run, no-doubt homer to left. Robberts drove in Austin Eifrid and Alex Whipple. Eifrid reached on a bunt single to start the game and Whipple walked against DU starter
James Rogers. The Eagles tacked on another run later in the inning as Seth Schroeder singled home Logan Stoldt who doubled with two outs.
Davenport got two runs back in the bottom of the first as
Christian Petre singled on the infield and
Noah Marcoux hit a hard single to center. With two outs, Petre scored on a wild pitch and Marcoux moved to second.
Kamrin Markwardt then drove home Marcoux with a RBI single up the middle.
The scoring ended after that first inning as Jacob Harsany and Rogers both settled in on the mound. Harsany went 5.1 innings and improved to 2-0 allowing two earned runs with three walks and two strikeouts. Rogers fell to 4-2 going five innings and allowing six hits and four earned runs with four walks and a season-high six strikeouts. Perry Bewley picked up his fourth save of the season by getting the final five Panthers in order with three strikeouts.
Evan Maize also had a good relief appearance for the Panthers with two innings of no-hit ball with two walks and two strikeouts.
Petre finished 2-for-4 and stole a base. He was the only Panther with multiple hits in the game and DU was held to a season-low four hits. Markwardt reached base three times with two walks and the RBI single.
The second game will be recapped after its conclusion with Sunday's game.
