Game One Box Score | Game Two Box Score

KENTWOOD, Mich. - The bats came alive late in the 8-1 win in game one but the defense let the Panthers down in a 7-4 loss as they split a non-conference doubleheader with Rochester on Saturday afternoon. The two teams will return to action on Sunday at 10:00am in two more 7-inning games.

Tucker Gernhard (Stafford, Va.) overcame a shaky start to game one as the red-shirt senior was brilliant over the final five innings to pick up his fourth win of the year.  Gernhard allowed only three hits and one earned run while striking out seven Warriors in the 8-1 win.

The offense sputtered for the first few innings for Davenport as they managed a single run in each of the third and fifth innings before exploding for six in the sixth.  Mike Allen (Midland, Mich.) led off the inning with a double and was followed by a pair of singles from Drew Kennedy (Mt. Pleasant, Mich.) and Derrick Gentile (Sturgis, Mich.) to score an important third run for DU.

Travis Laver then laid down a perfect bunt single to bring home Gentile after Clayton Cross (Byron Center, Mich.), a pinch runner, was caught stealing.  The inning ended with Chris VanGessel (Grandville, Mich.) and Dan Brown (Bay City, Mich.) each connecting on deep homeruns to put the game out of reach.

Game two was much more of a defensive struggle for the Panthers as they committed six errors which led to four unearned runs for Rochester.  The Warriors capitalized on each of the miscues by Davenport as they scored in four of the seven frames.

Davenport did get on the board first in the bottom of the first but it would be there only lead of the game as Laver once again singled on a bunt and was brought home two batter later when Matt McNeil (St. Clair Shores, Mich.) singled to left center.  McNeil was thrown out on the play trying to stretch it into a double.

Laver scored his second run of the game in the fourth inning after Rochester had taken a 4-1 lead in the top half of the inning to get DU to within two.  A late rally from Davenport fell short in the final inning as the Warriors escaped with the win.

Kennedy took the hard-luck loss as the junior allowed six runs (only two earned) on seven hits while striking out six Warriors.

The split leaves Davenport at 18-10 on the year with a doubleheader scheduled for Sunday back at East Kentwood.  The first game is scheduled to start at 10:00am.