Game Notes | Freed Hardeman | Martin Methodist

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – After almost a two week hiatus from competition, the Davenport Softball team returns to action this weekend as they travel to Tennessee to face Freed Hardeman University and Martin Methodist College in a pair of double-headers. Head coach Ronda Varnesdeel has her squad at 10-5-1 entering this weekend against two of the tip teams from the Trans South Athletic Conference (TSAC). DU face FHU on Friday at 5 p.m. and will wrap up their weekend on Sunday at MMC at 1 p.m.

Davenport returns to the diamond for the first time since splitting a pair of games against Ave Maria and Bellevue back on March 2 and will look to continue their success in the state of Tennessee as they are 11-7 in the Volunteer State all-time. DU will play a doubleheader on Friday against the Lions (Freed Hardeman) and follow with another on Sunday against the Red Hawks.

A Quick Look at Freed Hardeman- Freed Hardeman enters the weekend with an overall record of 11-3 but they have dropped their last two games to Lee and Faulkner in the Orange Beach Invitational. The Lions also picked up wins over No. 3 Brenau (Ga.) and No. 19 Mobile (Ala.) in that same tournament and have also defeated No. 13 Reinhardt in the Martin Methodist Meltdown early in the season.  The Lions are led by head coach Todd Humphry who is in his 13th season at the helm. Freed-Hardeman competes in the Trans South Conference and in the last three seasons, FHU is 96-41.

A Quick Look at Martin Methodist- Martin Methodist is a team that Davenport has faced once before as the Panthers defeated the Red Hawks back on March 19, 2011 by the score of 6-5. MMC is 10-8 on the season as they have gone 5-5 in their last 10 contests including a split with NCAA DII Chaminade University in their trip to Hawaii. The Red Hawks are led by head coach Brandi Paul who is in her 13th season and she has guided the team to a 402-216 overall record entering 2013. The Red Hawks compete in the Trans South Athletic Conference and have traditionally been ranked in the NAIA Top-25.

Fast Starts - Davenport has always featured a powerful offense and the 2013 team is no different as they have outscored their opponents by a total of 112-50 this season. Most of that damage is coming in the first two innings as the Panthers have allowed only 10 runs in the first two frames while scoring 56 themselves. DU only trails in the third and fifth innings in overall runs scored.

Balanced Batting Lineup - Davenport enters their trip to Tennessee having a very balanced lineup at the plate. Eight different players are hitting at least .350 on the season including three that are over the .400 mark. Amber Getty leads the way with a .500 batting average as she raised it from .250 (trip to Arkansas) to .500 after Florida.

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