AUBURNDALE, Fla. - The drama was real on Thursday (Mar. 1) for the Davenport baseball team as they fought back-and-forth against No. 7 Minnesota State in a 7-5 loss in 10 innings. Davenport and Minnesota State dueled in a classic game which featured highs and lows on both sides.

The Mavericks were playing their first game of the season and the Panthers were looking to extend a four-game win streak. Davenport scored first with a run in the bottom of the first. Alex Huard reached base on an error and later scored on a RBI single by Zac Wilson.

Minnesota State then scored single runs in the second and third inning to take a 2-1 lead. Luke Waldek on a RBI double in the second and Jack Mattson had a RBI double in the third. Cole Sanderson got the start for Davenport and managed to strand five runners on base in the first three innings.

The Panthers tied it up at 2 in the bottom of the third as Brian Sobieski beat out a potential double play ball to record an RBI as Austin Petravicius scored on the play. Davenport could have taken the lead but left the bases loaded after a pop-up was caught in foul territory.

MSU-Mankato collected four hits in the top of the fourth and scored three times to take a 5-2 lead. Teddy Petersen had a sac fly and Jordan Hart had a RBI single for the Mavericks. Pete Zeimis came into the game to replace Sanderson with two outs and gave up a RBI single to Dylan Dresel. He then struck out Mattson to end any further damage.

Aaron Rozek got the start for the Mavericks and went four innings before handing the ball to reigning NCAA DII Pitcher of the Year Dalton Roach. Rozek allowed seven hits and one earned run with two walks and six strikeouts. Roach and Zeimis put up zeroes on the scoreboard until the Panthers scratched across a run in the bottom of the eighth. Noah Marcoux led off with a double and moved to third on a groundout. Nolan Bryant then reached on a throwing error to extend the inning and plate DU's third run.

Zeimis pitched a solid ninth inning and the Panthers needed two runs to tie in the bottom of the ninth. Roach looked in command until Sobieski doubled with one out to right center. Aaron Fadden was inserted to pinch run at second base and with two outs the stage was set for Jimmy Filipski. He drove the ball over the right field wall for his first home run of the season to tie the game at 5.

The Mavericks scored twice in the top of the 10th as Waldek hit a double to center to start the inning. James Rogers came in for Zeimis and got a strikeout. Josh Wenzel then doubled to center scoring Waldek with the winning run. MSU-Mankato tacked on another run on a fielding error. The Panthers made it very interesting in the bottom half against reliever Bobby Gauvreau. The bases were loaded with two outs but pinch hitter Jake Bozzo grounded out to first to end the game.

Zeimis took the tough luck loss going 5.2 innings and allowing just one run with two strikeouts. Roach got the win striking out six in five innings and allowed two runs. Bryant, Petravicius, Sobieski and Marcoux all had a double. Bryant, Petravicius, Wilson, DiPonio, Filipski and Marcoux all had two hits.

The Panthers will continue their Florida trip tomorrow as they face Malone (0-4) and Minnesota State (1-0) in Auburndale at Lake Myrtle Sports Complex.