LEWISTON, Idaho – The Davenport baseball team fought back to keep its historical season alive but a four-run ninth inning allowed St. Thomas to run away with an 8-3 win to eliminate the Panthers from the Avista-NAIA World Series at Harris Field Saturday.
 
The Panthers close the book on the 2015 season at 51-12.
 
Corey Murphy would throw 5 2/3 allowing four runs on 10 hits and a walk. The Panthers offense, meanwhile, tallied eight hits and earned two walks but stranded nine runners, including a bases-loaded opportunity with nobody out in the sixth.
 
Trailing 2-0, Zack Sardellitti cut the deficit in half in the fourth when he sent a pitch to right field for a solo home run.
 
After St. Thomas got two runs across in the sixth to take a 4-1 lead, Davenport began a rally in the seventh. Brandon Cable doubled to left center to lead off the inning and pinch-runner Tyler Baratono moved to third on Zac Wilson's single to right. Cody Greear brought Baratono home with a single to shallow left and after Cam Cooper reached safely on a bunt, the third run came in when Connor Seymour was hit by the pitch.
 
Still with nobody out, the Bobcats escaped the threat with the lead by retiring the 2-3-4 hitters.
 
The Bobcats would take complete control of the game in the ninth, when they used four hits and a sacrifice bunt to score four runs and take an 8-4 lead.
 
Baseball Contact: Rick Hoskin | 616-871-6180 | rhoskin@davenport.edu
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