GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – A new season is set to begin for Davenport's 19^th-ranked baseball team as the Panthers' quest to get back to the NAIA National Championship starts with a three-game, non-conference series with Union (Ky.) starting Friday at 2 p.m. Saturday and Sundays contest are slated for 1 p.m. first pitches.
 
at Union College
Series: Three Single-Game Series
Dates: February 6-8
First Pitch: 2 p.m. (Feb. 6), 1 p.m. (Feb. 7-8)
Location: Barbourville, Ky. (Carey Stadium at Colonel Sanders Field)
Internet Coverage: Live Stats/Video/Audio
Announcers: TBA
 
A Quick Look at Union
The Bulldogs, under 12th-year head coach Bart Osborne, had a respectable 34-20 overall record and 17-10 in the Appalachian Athletic Conference but were bowed out of the double-elimination formatted league tournament. Osborne returns 23 players from last year including 11 seniors. Right-handed junior Matt Hasenbeck, a transfer from St. Louis Community College, is projected to be the ace of Union's pitching staff.  On the offensive side, first baseman Nelson Price is the lone returnee on the Union roster to be named to the All-AAC team last year. Price led the Bulldogs in virtually every major offensive category a season ago.
 
The Last Time vs. Union
Although this will be the eighth, ninth and 10th meetings between Davenport and Union, it is the third straight season the two schools met in a three-game series. In fact, all contests have been held in Barbourville, Ky. Last year's set saw the Panthers take 2-of-3 for the first time, losing the lead and the game itself 13-8 in the opener before taking the middle game 9-2 and rubber match 10-6. Brendan Bender had the most success against the Bulldogs, going 8-for-13 with three walks and three RBI.
 
Baseball Contact: Rick Hoskin | 616-871-6180 | rhoskin@davenport.edu
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