ROCKFORD, Mich. – The Davenport softball team continued the WHAC Tournament on Thursday afternoon as they took on UM-Dearborn in a battle of the only teams who entered the day at 2-0. The Panthers were able to beat the Wolverines, 6-1, to move to 3-0 in the tournament and advance to the WHAC Championship. Davenport will face either Aquinas or UM-Dearborn in the WHAC Championship on Friday at 1 p.m., from the Rockford, Mich.
 
Davenport struck first in the top of the first inning Paige Sant'Angelo reached base on an infield single, and after an error by the pitcher, Sarah Schneidenbach was able to score for the Panthers, as they took an early 1-0 lead. UM-Dearborn came storming back in the bottom half of the first inning as they tied the game as Valerie Bertani tripled to right-center to drive in Taylor Morcei, who singled to start the game.
 
In the top of the second inning, Davenport was able to regain the lead after Karli Myers fouled out to right field and Ashleigh Blovsky scored, what would end up being the game winning run, after an error from the right fielder. Davenport grabbed some insurance runs in the third inning after Sant'Angelo hit a two-run homerun to give the Panthers a 4-1 lead. Lauren Groendyk capped off the third inning with a single to center field to drive in Blovsky and Alyssa Eastman to give DU a 6-1 lead after the top half of the third inning.
 
After allowing one run early in the game, Emily Maves (23-4) settled down to finish the game with eight strikeouts and allowing just the one earned run in the game. With the win, Maves moves into sole possession of second place all-time for wins in a season with 23, and she is now one game back from the school record of 24 wins set by Sam Cole in the 2013 season.
 
Davenport will now face the winner of the Aquinas and UM-Dearborn matchup in the WHAC Championship game on Friday at 1 p.m. from Rockford, Mich. The winner of the WHAC Tournament will earn an automatic bid into the NAIA National Championships.
 
Softball Contact: Rick Hoskin | 616-871-6180 | rhoskin@davenport.edu
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