MONTGOMERY, Ala. – The Davenport softball team opened up the 2015 NAIA National Championship – Opening Round on Monday as they took on Georgia Gwinnett. The Panthers were able to take down the Grizzlies, 4-0, to stay in the winner's bracket of the Auburn Montgomery bracket. Emily Maves picked up 25th win in the circle, which is a new season best in program history. Davenport will face the winner of the Auburn Montgomery and Tennessee Wesleyan match up on Tuesday at 2 p.m. EDT.
 
After neither team was able to score in the first inning, the Panthers got on the board first in the bottom of the second inning after Ashleigh Blovsky singled to right-center to score Alyssa Eastman, who singles to start off the inning. Carli SanMillan was able to drive in Blovsky to give Davenport a 2-0 lead heading into the third inning.
 
Maves started to settle in after walking three batters in the first two innings, including striking out the side in the fifth inning. Davenport used the momentum after the three strikeout from Maves heading into the home half of the fifth inning, as they put two more runs on the board.
 
After a leadoff walk from Karli Myers in the fifth and a bunt single by McKenzie Rowe, KC Dunne was able to successfully lay down a squeeze bunt to score Myers from third base. Paige Sant'Angelo closed out the scoring for the Panthers after she grounded out to second base, to drive in Rowe to give DU a 4-0 lead.
 
Maves shut the door on the Grizzlies in the sixth and seventh innings to clinch the 4-0 win for Davenport, while she picked up her 25th win in the circle on the season. The 25 wins is a new program best in a single season, and Maves broke Sam Cole's record of 24 wins set back in the 2014 season.
 
Davenport now stays in the winner's bracket and will play at 2 p.m. EDT on Tuesday against the winner of the Auburn Montgomery and Tennessee Wesleyan match up.   
 
Softball Contact: Rick Hoskin | 616-871-6180 | rhoskin@davenport.edu
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