GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – After having to rally from a four-run deficit, Davenport's
Brandon Cable hit a two-run shot in the sixth to break the tie and the combination of
Corey Murphy and
Jonathan Cheshire held Oklahoma Wesleyan's bats in check to complete a 11-4 comeback in game nine to send the Panthers to their first ever trip to the Avista-NAIA World Series in Lewiston, Idaho.
Check DUPanthers.com or @DUAthletics to see who and when the Panthers will face in the first round of the NAIA World Series.
Oklahoma Wesleyan struck early against
Corbin Clouse, who surrendered three runs in the first inning and was relieved in the second by Murphy. Although he was pitching on two days of rest, Murphy (8-4) conceded the fourth run in the third off a double and a single but the junior right-hander allowed only two hits the rest of his 4 2/3 outing. Cheshire went the rest of the way and cruised to his 14
th save of the season.
Davenport's rally in the fourth began with back-to-back leadoff singles by
Brendan Bender and
Matt Priebe. Zack Sardelitti drove in the first run with a big double to right center,
Jordan Zylstra brought the second run in with a sacrifice fly,
Brandon Cable had one of his three RBI tallied with a double to center and
Connor Seymour knocked in the tying run with a hit up the middle. The inning ended starter Jeffery Deavenport's day on the mound as he scattered seven hits but did not allow any walks.
The home half of the sixth inning started with Sardellitti singling up through the right side, quickly ending Sam Haynes (5-3) day. Jacob Ficklin came in an got the first out on Zylstra's second sacrifice hit but couldn't stop Cable from hittin a blast to left field for a two-run homer to give Davenport a 6-4 lead.
The Panthers continued to add more runs on the board, scoring two in the seventh and three in the eighth.
Davenport out-hit the Eagles for the second game in a row 18-11.
Baseball Contact:
Rick Hoskin | 616-871-6180 |
rhoskin@davenport.eduDU Athletics: Twitter |
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