GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Davenport earned their fourth straight WHAC regular season trophy after a thrilling game two win over the Wolverines of Michigan-Dearborn. The Panthers came into the doubleheader needing both wins in order to clinch a share of the WHAC championship. The team stepped up to the plate and took care of business against the Wolverines. The Panthers won the second game in walk off fashion with an RBI single in the bottom of the seventh by Lauren French.
 
Game 1 (Friday, April 28 at 3:30 p.m.)
Final Score: #8 Davenport-4 | UM-Dearborn-0
Location: Grand Rapids, Mich.
Records: DU 37-6 (15-4) | UMD 26-7-1 (15-3-1)
 
INSIDE THE BOX
McKenzie Rowe (2-2, R, BB, 2B)
Alyssa Eastman (1-3, R, RBI)
Kara Hutchison (2-3)
Briana Allen (2-3, R)
Haley Obetts (1-3, R, 2 RBI, HR)
Kennedy Crawford (1-3, 3B)
Emily Maves (W, 17-2) 7 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 5 BB, 6 SO
 
Davenport shut out the Wolverines in game one due to solid pitching by Maves. She only let up two hits the entire game and didn't let them score any runs. Obetts hit a two run homer in the fourth inning to score the initial runs of the game and got a huge congratulation from her teammates for hitting a homerun on her birthday. Davenport scored another two runs in the fifth inning to take a four run lead heading into the final two innings.
 
Game 2 (Friday, April 28 at 6:10 p.m.)
Final Score: #8 Davenport-7 | UM-Dearborn-6
Location: Grand Rapids, Mich.
Records: DU 38-6 (16-4) | UMD 26-8-1 (15-4-1)
 
INSIDE THE BOX
French (3-4, R, 2 RBI, HBP)
Alexa Flores (2-3, R, 2 RBI, 2B, SH)
Eastman (2-3, RBI, BB, 2B)
Aby Brambila (1-1, R, BB, 3B)
Allen (1-3, R, 2 RBI, SF)
Crawford (2-4, 2 R, 2B)
Mallory Teunissen (W, 18-2) 7 IP, 9 H, 6 R, 6 ER, 0 BB, 3 SO
 
The second game of the doubleheader was one of the most exciting games of the entire season. There was immediate action as both teams scored two runs each in the first inning. During the seven inning game there was five different lead changes and several ties. After seven runs were scored in the opening two innings the scoring died down a little. During inning five, six and seven the excitement boiled over. In the fifth inning Allen hit a fly ball to the left fielder and Lindsay Tasma tagged up at third and had an incredible slide into home plate to tie the game. Heading into the bottom of the sixth inning the teams were tied 4-4 and Flores hit a single to right field that scored Crawford. Davenport went into the top of the seventh inning only needing three outs to win the championship. The Wolverines had different plans as they scored two runs in the top of the seventh to take a one run lead. Davenport had their backs to the walls as they needed one run to tie the game and two to win with only three outs remaining in the game. Brambila was first up to the plate and hit a triple to right field, Allen stepped up next and hit a single to left field which scored Brambila. Obetts layed down a sacrifice bunt towards the third base player and advanced Allen to second. Crawford flied out to left field and then French stepped up to the plate with two outs and a runner at second base. She hit a single through the right side and Allen rounded third and scored the game winning run for the Panthers.


 
Up Next
Davenport will await the seeding of the WHAC tournament to see who their next opponent is.
 
Story by: Devin Steiner
 
Photo credit: Softball coaching staff