Game One Box Score | Game Two Box Score
KENTWOOD, Mich. – Senior Matt McNeil (St. Clair Shores, Mich.) hit a three-run walk-off home run in the bottom of the 10th inning, giving the Panthers a 12-10 win over visiting Aquinas on Senior Day at East Kentwood HS. DU also won game one of the doubleheader, 9-2. The two-game sweep finishes the Panthers' regular season as they finish second in the WHAC with a 10-6 record and 27-16 overall.
After an early 1-1 tie, the Panthers fell behind 7-1 in the top of the fourth as the Saints notched six runs in the inning, highlighted by a Brent Butgereit home run to right center.
The Panthers had a strong fourth inning of their own, scoring four runs to close the margin to 7-5 through fourth innings. Brandon Bongard (Grand Rapids, Mich.) brought in three of those runs as he hit a bases loaded double.
A sacrifice fly gave the Saints one run in the seventh inning, increasing the score to 8-5.
DU scored two runs to close within one run, 8-7, with one out in the seventh inning. With Ron Sanders (Mt. Pleasant, Mich.) on third and one out, Chris VanGessel (Grandville, Mich.) laid down a bunt as Sanders broke for home on the squeeze play. Sanders was safe at home to tie the game at 8-8 through seven innings. Aquinas regained the lead, 9-8, when Ryan Grigonis homered in the eighth inning.
In the ninth, VanGessel hit a key single, scoring the tying run for a 9-9 score after nine innings.
After loading the bases, a walk gave the visiting Saints the lead at 10-9 in the 10th.
With two runners on and two outs, plus a 0-2 count, McNeil ended the game with his three-run home run for a 12-10 DU win.
The Panthers also took the first game, 9-2, as pitcher Drew Kennedy (Mt. Pleasant, Mich.) allowed only two runs, a two-run home run in the first, on four hits in a seven inning complete game.
DU scored one run apiece in the first and second innings to tie the game, and Derrick Gentile (Sturgis, Mich.) hit a two-run home run to give the Panthers a 4-2 lead. A Mike Allen (Midland, Mich.) double scored two more runs for the Panthers as the Panthers scored four in the third inning to give DU a 6-2 advantage.
Allen added his third and fourth RBIs on the early game on a two-run home run in the fifth inning. The Panthers added one more run in the fifth for the final 9-2 score.
The Panthers play in the WHAC Tournament, hosted by Madonna, on Wednesday (May 4) when DU takes on Indiana Tech in the opening round.
