HENDERSONVILLE, Tenn. – The Panthers kicked off 2019 with games against Rockhurst and Indianapolis. The two games were extremely close, but the ball didn't bounce the Panthers way and Davenport lost both. In the first game, against Rockhurst, the Panthers had the game in their control and lost it late when they gave up eight running in the final two innings. In the second game, against Indianapolis, Davenport couldn't get their offense going. The Panthers scored one run and had four hits, while the Grey Hounds scored three.
 
Game 1-Friday, February 15 at 12 p.m. ET (11 a.m. CT)
Final Score: Davenport University-7 | Rockhurst University-8
Location: Hendersonville, Tenn.
Records: DU (0-2) | RU (1-0)

Inside The Box
Selene Pauley (1-3, R, 2 RBI, HBP)
Lauren French (1-3, RBI, 2B, SH)
Maria Cura (1-3, R, RBI, HBP)
Rylie Kalina (R)
Madison Jewell (R)
Gabby Palazzolo (1-2, 2 R, SH, SB)
Jorden Urban (1-3, R, RBI)
Mallory Teunissen (L, 0-1) 6.0 IP, 9 H, 8 R, 3 ER, 3 BB, 4 SO
 
Davenport got off to a hot start in game 1. The Panthers scored four runs in the first inning. Mariah Cura singled down the right field line and scored Pauley, the first Panther run of the year. Shortly after, Alexa Flores reached on a throwing error, Kalina and Cura both scored to give DU a 3-0 lead. In the second Pauley singled up the middle to score Palazzolo and Davenport led by four early. Rokchurst scored three runs in the fifth inning, cutting DU's lead down to one. Davenport responded by scoring three runs in the sixth inning. Urban singled up the middle and scored Jewell, then Pauley grounded out to the short stop and Palazzolo scored. Later in the inning French grounded out to the short stop as well and this time Urban rounded the bases for the score. Rockhurst exploded in the final inning. Davenport led 7-3 heading into the bottom of the sixth inning, then Rockhurst scored five straight runs to take a late 8-7 lead. The Panthers got an opportunity to tie the game in the top of the seventh, but three straight ground outs ended the game.
 
Game 2-Friday, February 15 at 2 p.m. ET (1 p.m. CT)
Final Score: Davenport University-1 | Indianapolis-3
Location: Hendersonville, Tenn.
Records: DU (0-2) | UI (3-3)

Inside The Box
Pauley (1-3, BB)
French (1-4, R)
Cura (1-3)
Rachel Griffin (0-1, 2 BB)
Abby Merice (0-2, BB)
Palazzolo (1-3, RBI)
Ellie Muilenburg (L, 0-1) 7.0 IP, 9 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 5 BB, 3 SO
 
The bats cooled off for Davenport in the second game of the day. The Panthers were only able to garner four hits against the starting Grey Hounds pitcher. Similar to the first game, Davenport scored the first run of this game. The Panthers got on the board in the bottom of the fourth when Palazzolo Singled to left field with the bases loaded, scoring French from third. The Grey hounds responded with two runs of their own in the top of the fifth to take a 2-1 lead. Davenport went scoreless in the fifth and then Indianapolis scored another run in the sixth to grow their lead to two runs. The Panthers needed something in the sixth and seventh, but couldn't score a run.
 
Up Next
Davenport takes on Missouri S&T and Trevecca Nazarene University during day two of the Music City Invitational. The Panthers will face Missouri S&T at 11 a.m. ET and then Trevecca Nazarene at 1 p.m. ET, both on field five.
 
Story by: Devin Steiner

Picture credit: Levi Rex (Gannon University)