Site: Santa Clarita, Calif. (Reese Field)
Final Score: Davenport 4, The Master's (Calif.) 0
WP: Murphy (9-2), LP: Kister (6-6), Save: None
Records: DU (42-15), TMC (37-17)
Next DU event: Tuesday, May 13 – vs. TBD – NAIA Opening Round (Reese Field, Santa Clarita, Calif.) – 3 p.m. EDT
 
SANTA CLARITA, Calif. – Corey Murphy went from start to finish for the sixth time this season and did not allow any runs across for the fifth time while an first-inning strike by the offense gave the 24th-ranked Davenport baseball team a 4-0 win over No. 14 The Master's in the Panthers debut in the NAIA National Opening Round Monday afternoon. The Panthers, who improve to 42-15 on the year, return to Reese Field Tuesday to take on the winner of the No. 8 San Diego Christian/ British Columbia matchup at 3 p.m. EDT.
 
The Panthers went to work on Mustang starter Tommy Kister (6-6) the moment they got their hands on the bat. Cody Greear drew a walk to start Davenport's offense, Brendan Bender picked up a one-out hit and a double by EJ Grochowalski followed by a single from Jordan Zylstra gave the Panthers a 2-0 lead. Ryan Manning added the third run on a groundout and another single by Eric Cummings drove in Zylstra for the fourth run.
 
Kister would be knocked out of the game by the Panthers, but Jason Karkenny limited Davenport to two hits against 23 batters.
 
After allowing two singles in the first three innings, Murphy (9-2) had his shutout threatened in the fourth when the Mustangs (37-17) loaded the bases on a walk, a bunt single and a catcher interference with nobody out. But the sophomore escaped the jam with a strikeout and a double play.
 
Post-Game Notes
Davenport wins the inaugural meeting against The Master's…While making playing their first game in the national tournament, the Panthers are 8-8 postseason including the WHAC Tournament…Corey Murphy has thrown three complete-game shutouts this season…In fact, Murphy has allowed two runs in 34 innings of work the last four appearances
 
Baseball Contact: Rick Hoskin | 616-871-6180 | rhoskin@davenport.edu
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