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BATTLE CREEK, Mich. – Taking a 1-0 lead into their half of the sixth inning, Davenport plated seven runs to blow open a tight game and win by mercy over Siena Heights University in the opening game of the 2013 Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference tournament at Bailey Park. The win sends the Panthers into the winner's bracket semifinal on Thursday at 3 p.m. where they will face the winner of the Lourdes/Madonna matchup. Davenport is now 31-11-1 on the year.

Sam Cole posted her sixth shutout of the season and improved to 20-6 on the mound as the senior allowed just four hits and six total base runners to get the Panthers started with a win in their quest for their second ever WHAC Tournament championship.

The first three innings saw the Davenport bats, which had come into the week on fire over their last six games, go quiet as they managed just one hit and one walk to pose no real threat to the Saints pitcher Katie O'Hotzke. That all changed when the Panthers came through with a 2-out rally in the fourth highlighted by an RBI single from freshman Alexis Powell.

The 1-0 score remained the same heading into the sixth when Siena Heights loaded the bases but Sam Cole got a groundout back to the pitcher to end the threat. Looking for some insurance runs in their half of the sixth, DU got that and much more as they scored seven runs to post the 8-0 mercy.

Alexis Powell again got the scoring started with a 2-out single scoring Sarah Schneidenbach and it was followed by a single by Karli Myers and a fielder's choice in which Melissa Covert reached base. Amber Getty then brought home pinch runner Kelly DuCharme to make it 3-0. Debra Burton followed with a doubl to deep center to score a pair and the game ended as the next batter KC Dunne tripled to right center and scored on an error.

After DU's slow start, the Panthers ended up with their fifth straight mercy on the season and extended their winning streak to seven games. Davenport will face the winner of Madonna and Lourdes in the second round on Thursday at 3 p.m.

Post-Game Notes

Amber Getty moved into a tie for fourth on the single season RBI list with 47…KC Dunne tied the single season triples record with her sixth of the season in the sixth inning…Sam Cole moves into third alone with 20 wins in a single season…KC Dunne extends her on-base streak to 15 games

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