Box Score | Photo Gallery | Video Highlights

BATTLE CREEK, Mich. - Freshman Amber Getty hit her first career homerun to bring Davenport to within two runs in the sixth, but it was the second of her career, a walk-off grand slam in the bottom of the seventh, that lifted Davenport to a dramatic 7-4 come from behind win over Madonna.  The win gives DU the conference's automatic berth to the NAIA National Championships in Gulf Shores, Ala.

The Wolverine Hoosier Athletic Conference regular season champions saved their best for last all weekend at the tournament played at Bailey Park in Battle Creek as the Lady Panthers picked up their third straight win in their final at-bat.  

For the second straight year, Davenport met rival Madonna in the championship game, only this time DU had to be beaten twice in order to be eliminated from the tournament after a dramatic 2-1 win in eight innings earlier in the day.

Madonna, who defeated DU last year at Bailey Park to go to nationals, got on the board first in the top of the fifth inning when they brought home two runs on a double by Jackie Barley. The Crusaders (38-12) added one more unearned run in the frame to lead 3-0.

The runs in the fifth by MU ended four straight outstanding innings from each starter as Karlee Despres (Belmont, Mich.)and Jess Irwin were both dominate on the mound.  The Crusaders added one more run in the top of the sixth inning when Arielle Cox singled home Amber Rafko giving MU a 4-0 lead.

Managing only one hit through the first five innings, the DU bats finally started to click in their half of the sixth. Liz Veltman (Grand Ledge, Mich.) opened the inning with a single and after a popout, Amber Getty (Wayland, Mich.)came to the plate and belted her first career homerun to deep right center to cut the margin in half.  

Madonna was able to escape with only the two runs scoring after stranding another DU runner on base.  Despres worked out of some trouble in the top of the seventh to keep the game at 4-2 which set up the dramatic final inning.

Ali Dawson (Galesburg, Mich.) led off the bottom of the seventh with a double but after Debra Burton (Cassopolis, Mich.) reached on a hit by pitch, Ali was thrown out trying to steal third base. Karlee Despres then walked and Liz Veltman reached on a fielders choice to load the bases.

Burton reached third on the ball put into play by Veltman as an error by the MU shortstop gave DU the bases loaded with only one out. Ashlee Olsen (Rockford, Mich.) singled back to the middle on a sharp ground ball to score a run and make it 4-3. Getty then stepped in and ended the game with her second homer of the game for the 7-4 final.

The win gives DU (38-15) their first ever conference tournament title and qualifies them for the 2011 NAIA National Championships from May 19-25 in Gulf Shores, Ala.  It will be the second appearance at the national tournament for Head Coach Ronda Varnesdeel after making one trip with Aquinas College.