Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 LAKELAND, Fla. - On the Panthers third day of competition, the Davenport baseball team earned a split today in their double header with the Fire of Southeastern University.  The Fire took the first game 11-5 while the Panthers took game two 3-2 on the all around quality pitching of starter Zach Liebman, Corey Anderson, and Jarrett Luyk.  The split brings the team's season record to 3-5 overall and 1-3 on the Florida trip.
 
In game one the Panthers fell down 5-0 after 3 innings after Southeastern leftfielder hit the first of his two homeruns on the day.  Davenport rallied in their at-bat in the 4th with four runs of their own to pull within 1 run.
 
All of the Panther runs in the 4th came was started by a Jason Pierce single who would eventually score on a wild pitch.   Brian Bongard would follow Pierce with a double and Austin Licon earned a walk.  Eric Cummings would come in to pinch run for Licon and eventually score one of the four Panther runs on a Derek Gentile sac-fly.  Mike Allen also got into the action with a single and would score on a Drew Kennedy double to left center.

The excitement would be short lived however as the Fire would answer the Panther rally with 3 runs of their own in the 4th inning and then 3 more in the 6th to take game one.

Game two saw a change of pace as the pitchers for both squads came out and pitched very well.  The Panthers got 4 2/3 from starter Zach Liebman who gave up 2 runs on 2 hits while striking out 4 and walking 2 Southeastern batters.  Liebman was backed up by good defense and help from his fellow pitchers.  Corey Anderson came in to get a hold as he gave the Panthers 1 1/3, giving up no hits, no walks and striking out one.  Jarrett Luyk would close the game out for Davenport going 1 inning giving up no hits but walking two Fire batters.

Davenport got their offense from some familiar names in game two.  Jason Pierce when 1 for 2 at the plate while scoring a run and earning an RBI.  Jotham Woo also had a nice day at the plate as he went 2 for 2 and scoring a run.  Brandon Bongard also had a solid game two at the plate going 2 for 4 with an RBI.

The game 2 win gives the Panthers their first win in Florida, a much needed mental boost for a young squad still trying to find itself early in the 2012 season.
 

Post-Game Notes – Jason Pierce continues to impress as today he went 3 for 6, had 1 RBI, and scored 2 runs… DU plays again tomorrow at 4:00 pm as they travel to Babson Park, Fla. to face Webber International University in another double header…Check out www.dupanthers.com to follow the Panthers in Florida and all season via LiveStats and LiveAudio.


Post-Game Quotes – Kevin Tidey

On getting a needed win – It was a huge win for our guys to get on track mentally and hopefully this will push us towards the right direction for the rest of the trip.

On overall play of the team today  – Still not playing our best baseball and even though we had guys get big hits in big spots, we have yet to get the production we want from some of our keys guys who are struggling right now.  If we can get that production up from those guys, we could be tough to beat.


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