HAMMOND, Ind. – Davenport was finally back on the softball field after two weeks off, mainly due to weather cancelations. The Panthers two games against the Pride of Purdue Northwest were on both ends of the spectrum. In the first game Davenport won 8-0 in five innings, but in the second game lost 13-4 in five innings. Davenport had a 4-3 lead heading into the fifth inning, but the Pride blew up offensively by scoring 10 runs in the inning. The Panthers will look to put a complete series together this week.
 
Game 1-Sunday, March 24 at 12:00 p.m.
Final Score: Davenport University-8 | Purdue Northwest-0 (5 innings)
Location: Hammond, Ind.
Records: DU (8-8, 1-0) | PNW (11-6, 2-1)
 
Inside The Box
Gabby Palazzolo (2-4, 2 R, RBI, 2B)
Kennedy Crawford (2-4, RBI)
Mariah Cura (2-4, R, 2 RBI)
Abby Merice (2-3, BB)
Rachel Griffin (2-4, RBI)
Selene Pauley (1-3, R, 2 SB)
Alexis Koza (1-3, R, 2B)
Lauren French (2-2, 3 R, RBI, 2B, HBP)
Mallory Teunissen (W, 5-3) 5 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 6 SO
 
Davenport wasn't able to score in the first inning, but that didn't matter as they scored eight unanswered runs throughout the next four innings. In inning two Crawford opened up the scoring with a single up the middle, Koza and French both scored on the play. The fourth and fifth inning saw lots of runs scored for DU. In the fourth, Crawford reached on an error and French scored on the play. Later in the inning Cura singled to center field and Palazzolo scored. In the fifth inning, Pauley, French, Palazzolo, and Cura all scored, bringing the lead up to eight runs. Teunissen was back to her usual self on the mound, allowing only two hits and no runs in the five inning game.
 
Game 2-Sunday, March 24 at 2:00 p.m.
Final Score: Davenport University-4 | Purdue Northwest-13 (5 innings)
Location: Hammond, Ind.
Records: DU (8-9, 1-1) | PNW (12-6, 3-1)
 
Inside The Box
Cura (1-3, R, 2B)
Merice (3-3, R, RBI, 2B)
Griffin (1-2, R, BB)
Pauley (1-3, R, 2 RBI, 2B)
Ellie Muilenburg (L, 3-2) 4.1 IP, 11 H, 6 R, 3 ER, 0 BB, 3 SO
Emma Miller 0.0 IP, 4, H, 7 R, 7 ER, 2 BB, 0 SO
 
The Panthers were on track to earn the sweep against the Pride. Davenport led 4-3 heading into the top of the fifth inning after scoring three runs in the fourth. Pauley drove in a pair with a double to center field and then French hit a sac fly to left field, scoring Pauley. After scoring 0 in the top of the fifth, Davenport went into the bottom of the fifth with a 4-3 lead. Purdue Northwest rattled off 10 unanswered runs, including a grand slam that ended the game early due to the nine run lead.
 
Davenport gets to play on their home field for the first time this season this upcoming week. The Panthers host Walsh University on Monday (March 25) for the teams last non-conference games of the season.
 
Story by: Devin Steiner
 
Picture credit: Paul Penders