CLERMONT, Fla. – It may have been only the first two games of the season but reigning Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference Player of the Year KC Dunne sent a message to the league that she is ready to defend the honor.
 
The senior went 6-for-7 on the day but did nearly everything a player can do, from hitting an inside the park home en route to completing a cycle in game one to breaking a tie with a two-run triple in the afternoon cap to pilot the No. 23 Davenport softball team to a 22-0 mercy-rule win over Lyndon State followed by a 7-3 win over Alma at the NTC Softball Complex Sunday.
 
Reigning WHAC Newcomer of the Year Alyssa Eastman also had a busy day on the circle, picking up a win despite being held responsible for the three runs today. She did tally seven strikeouts. She also hit a triple and a home run at the plate in both games.
 
Davenport will step out of NTC Softball play and begin a three-school trip around central Florida, starting with the longest drive of the tour to Daytona Beach for a twinbill with Embry-Riddle. The two teams meet at Daytona State College's diamond Monday at 3 p.m.
 
Game 1 – Davenport 22, Lyndon State 0 (5 innings)
The 'visiting' Panthers did all the damage they needed as soon as they grabbed a bat, putting six runs on the board. In fact, Davenport driven more than two runs across in every inning.
 
Dunne began the quest for a cycle in the first inning when she tallied the team's first hit of the season, a single to right. In her second trip to the plate, she hit a blast to the left centerfield fence and easily touched them all for a two-run, inside-the-park home run. She drove in two more runs in her next at-bat with a triple to left and completed the cycle with a RBI double to center in the fourth.
 
Eastman also had double duties. Pitching-wise she threw only two innings but rang up four batters while at the plate she stretched her triple down the left field line in the third.
 
Kyleigh Linebaugh picked up the win after throwing three innings of relief. She conceded a hit and a walk but did strike out three.
 
Game 2 – Davenport 7, Alma 3
Switching over the 'home team' for game two, the Panthers still struck first with a three-run first inning. Mackenzie Rowe led off reaching on an error, stole second and scored on Carli SanMillan's single. Dunne followed with a two-run blast to left.
 
Although the Scots, who were making their season debut, came back and tied the score 3-3 in the fifth, the Panthers regained the lead in their half of the frame. Sarah Schneidenbach led off reaching on an error, Rowe followed with a single on a bunt to set up a two-run three-bagger by Dunne to take a 6-3 lead. Eastman would help her cause with a two-run homer to center field.
 
Eastman had six innings of work before turning it over to Linebaugh the rest of the way.
 
Softball Contact: Rick Hoskin | 616-871-6180 | rhoskin@davenport.edu  
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