April 18, 2009
Game 1 Box Score Game 2 Box Score
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - Ali Dawson's second game gem lifted the Panthers to a split with UM Dearborn today as Davenport came away with a 3-0 shutout after falling 4-2 in extra innings in the first game. DU improves to 21-18 on the year and is now 6-10 in league play.
Game one was a slow one for the Davenport offense as they managed only six hits through the first six innings while not bringing anyone across the dish. Dearborn on the other hand got off to a quick start by scoring once each in the first two innings until DU pitcher Karlee Despres really settled in and dominated the Wolves hitters.
After Dearborn went scoreless the rest of the way, Davenport was down to their final at bat and Haley Stehouwer came up with a huge two-run homerun with two outs and two strikes in the bottom of the seventh to send the game into extra innings. Dearborn then scored twice in the 8th and held DU scoreless in their half to escape with the 4-2 game one win.
Ali Dawson got the ball on the mound in the second game and had outstanding stuff as she held the Wolves scoreless through all seven innings. The Davenport offense lifted the new pitcher up right from the start as Katie Cornman brought home Nikki Aldrich in the bottom of the first.
DU then tacked on two more runs in the bottom of the 6th as Cornman again got an RBI bringing in Dawson that was followed by an RBU groundout by Kassi Johnson.
The three runs were plenty for Dawson on the mound as the freshman finished with four strikeouts compared to only two walks and only allowed four hits.
For the day Katie Cornman went 3/7 and added two RBI and Ali Dawson matched her with three hits as well.
The split gives DU an overall record of 21-18 heading into a big double-header on Sunday at #17 Madonna University. Davenport will then play six games in three days all in Grand Rapids as they begin with a double-header at Aquinas on Tuesday and then play Cornerstone in a home and home on Wednesday and Thursday.
