DETROIT, Mich. - The season always ends poorly for everyone but one team, but the effort speaks volumes about the team. Davenport lost their first game of the GLIAC Tournament but battled back with three wins in elimination situations before falling 5-4 to top-seeded Northwood in the championship round on Sunday (May 13) at The Corner Ballpark. The Panthers took a 4-3 lead into the bottom of the ninth, but the Timberwolves scored twice including the game-winning single with two outs.

After a thrilling walk-off grand slam in the first game of the day, DU took the field immediately following and used that momentum to score three runs in the top of the second. Jake Gross had a clean first for the Timberwolves but ran into three hits in the second. Jacob Buchberger, the hero from the first game, tripled to left center with one out. Austin Petravicius then singled him home for a 1-0 lead. Alex Huard stepped up next and homered on a no-doubter to left for his third homer of the season and a 3-0 lead.

The Panthers had a critical moment in the top of the third to potentially take control of the game. DU loaded the bases with no outs but Brian Sobieski grounded into a 1-2-3 double play and Buchberger struck out to end the inning. Freshman Evan Maize held Northwood off the board in the first three innings in his first start of the season. The Timberwolves got on the board in the fourth as David Vinsky, the tournament most valuable player, launched a solo home run to left. 

Northwood tied the game in the fifth with two runs. The eight and nine hitters in the lineup singled with one out and then an error loaded the bases. Maize was lifted for Justin Palmbos who was making his third appearance of the tournament on the mound. He struck out a batter for the second out, but Vinsky singled on the infield towards shortstop as one run scored. DiPonio tried to scoop the ball and make a throw towards first, but the ball got away enough for the second run of the inning to score from second base.

Davenport took a 4-3 lead in the top of the eighth as Nolan Bryant doubled to left and Zac Wilson singled to left for the go-ahead RBI. Wilson advanced to third with one out but two flyouts ended the inning. Palmbos, running on fumes after throwing over 200 pitches in the last couple days, could not close it out in the ninth. However, his defense made an error that gave Northwood hope. The Timberwolves had runners on first and second with no outs as Noah Ingram pinch hit and dropped down a bunt to advance both runners into scoring position. A walk loaded the bases on a full count then Kyle Ziegler hit a sacrifice fly to center to tie the game. Miles Hardy took a 2-2 pitch for a single into right center as Keaton Sackett scored the winning run from second base.

Colin Moran (3-1) got the win for Northwood throwing the final two innings with no hits allowed. Palmbos took the loss (8-4) going the final 4.1 innings with three strikeouts. Bryant finished 2-for-4 with his 10th double of the season. Petravicius also went 2-for-4 with a run and RBI. Buchberger hit his fourth triple of the season and scored once in four at-bats. Davenport finishes the season with a 33-19 record with a runner-up in the tournament and second-place finish in the GLIAC regular season.

Postgame Notes: Buchberger, Bryant, Sobieski and Palmbos were all named to the all-tournament team...Buchberger batted .368 with nine RBI...Bryant batted .263 with five runs and 16 assists and 13 putouts...Sobieski batted .313 with four RBI and three walks...Palmbos went 2-1 with a 1.26 ERA in 14.1 innings and allowed 12 hits with eight strikeouts...DU finished 3-7 in one-run games this season...Petravicius tied the season record with 20 doubles...DU hit 45 home runs this season which sets a new team record for a season...they also stole 57-of-74 bases for the highest steal rate in a season.