CALEDONIA, Mich. - The last time Davenport softball hosted a ranked opponent came on April 13, 2019 when No. 6 Grand Valley State was in town and the home team won a pair of one-run games (6-5 and 7-6). Fast forward nearly two years later and a ranked Lakers team was back at the Farmers Insurance Athletic Complex, but swept the Panthers this time with scores of 2-1 and 9-2. Next up on the schedule, Davenport will play its third doubleheader of the week when it hosts Ferris State on Sunday with game one set to go at 1 p.m.

Davenport lost both ends of a GLIAC doubleheader for the first time this season to fall to 9-14 overall and 5-6 in GLIAC play. On the other side, Grand Valley State has won six games in a row and 14 of its last 15 to improve to 22-4 on the season, including 13-1 in league action. The Lakers now lead the all-time series with the Panthers 11-2, including 8-2 as members of the same conference.

In the first game, Davenport struck first in the second inning when Rachel Griffin hit a solo homerun to left field for her team leading fifth blast of the season. However, aside from a Lindsay Goodman single, also in the second, the Panthers' bats were held in check all game by Grand Valley State starter, Hannah Beatus (10-1). The Lakers scored their two runs in the fifth with a two-run single right back up the middle off the bat of Taylor Rieger.

Emma Miller (4-5) made the game one start for Davenport and gave up just two earned runs on six hits with only one walk and four strikeouts. Miller has now surrendered two earned runs or less in three-consecutive outings and four of her last five to improve her season ERA to 3.18, its lowest mark of the season.

In the rematch, the Panthers were on the board first again as Mariah Cura singled to left to bring in Gabby Palazzolo from second base. The Lakers wasted no time responding and did so with a three spot in the top of the second. In the home half of the second, Davenport pulled within one, 3-2, when Palazzolo scored Addison Binney with a sacrifice fly to right field. However, that would be all of the scoring for the Panthers as the Lakers added two runs in the third, one in the fourth, two in the fifth, and another in the sixth to make it 9-2.

Davenport hurler, Taylor Simon (1-2) made just her third start of the season before giving up eight runs, seven earned, on 10 hits with one free pass and one punchout. In relief, Ellie Muilenburg allowed one unearned run on four hits alongside two walks and a strikeout.

Story by: Cooper Weidenthaler