BOX SCORE
BATTLE CREEK, Mich. – Davenport held the lead the entire game until the seventh inning when a late two-run homerun propelled Madonna to the 6-5 victory. The Panthers are now 45-15 on the year and will play UM-Dearborn tomorrow at 2:00pm at Bailey Park.
After splitting with nationally ranked Madonna in their four game series during the regular season, the Panthers knew they needed to jump out early and that they did on Friday evening.
Heather Brusokas (Glendale, Calif.) put the Panthers on the board in the first inning with a two-run homerun after an
Ashlee Olsen (Rockford, Mich.) walk to begin the inning. Brusokas would send another homerun over the fence in the third to put DU up 5-0.
The Davenport bats then went silent for most of the game as WHAC Pitcher of the Year Jess Irwin cooled down after the shaky start.
Madonna got their first run in the fifth and then three more in the sixth to cut the DU lead to 5-4 heading into the seventh inning.
With two outs and a runner on first Madonna would send a two-run homerun that just grazed the top of the centerfield fence to go up 6-5 heading into the bottom of the seventh inning.
Olsen then led off the seventh inning with a single to left field. The red-shirt freshman fouled off five balls with two strikes before putting the ball into play but would be stranded there to end the game as the next three batters were unable to advance her and DU fell 6-5.
Davenport will continue play tomorrow at 2:00pm against UM-Dearborn in Battle Creek, Mich. The loser will end their season while the winner will advance to the Championship Game vs. Madonna at 6:00 PM at Bailey Park.
Post Game Quotes -
Head Coach
Ronda Varnesdeel
On Post-Season Play
“I think what we learned today is that in postseason the game is so amplified that you can never let your bats fizzles and a team can never have enough runs. Softball is a game of inches and today the ball just didn't bounce our way in the end.”
On the Team's Focus Heading into Friday
“We are playing great softball right now and this loss will only make us stronger and more prepared to fight tomorrow.”
