AUBURNDALE, Fla. – Corey Murphy struck out nine batters but couldn't hold on a to a slim lead as a two-run seventh inning allowed NCAA Division II Ashland to edge the No. 19 Davenport baseball team on a cold, windy night at Lake Myrtle Park Friday evening.
 
Davenport (9-2) was held to only five hits after recording 13 each against Goshen and Webber International Thursday night.
 
The Panthers jumped ahead in the second inning when Zack Sardellitti hit a leadoff double and scored on Jordan Zylstra's sacrifice fly.
 
While the Eagles (1-0), who had arrived late trying to get into Florida from Ohio and likely drove straight from the airport to Auburndale, evened the score in the fourth inning with a leadoff home run down the right field line with the help of the wind.
 
Murphy kept the score tied until the seventh inning when a leadoff walk set up a RBI single to right field to break the tie. The eventual winning run was followed by a fielding error by the defense later that inning.
 
The Panthers did cut the deficit in half as soon as they got back into offense. Brandon Cable led off with an opposite double down the right field line and pinch-runner Tim Steffes moved to third on a passed ball and scored on a wild pitch. Davenport did have opportunities to tie the go-ahead run in the same inning as well as the eighth but couldn't produce.
 
Jonathan Cheshire took over for Murphy in the seventh and went the rest of the way allowing no hits or walks while striking out three.
 
The Panthers conclude the Florida spring break trip Saturday taking on No. 12 Bellevue (Neb.) at Webber International. First pitch is at 7 p.m.
 
Baseball Contact: Rick Hoskin | 616-871-6180 | rhoskin@davenport.edu
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