CALEDONIA, Mich. - The doubleheader on Friday against Purdue Northwest proved to be a big one for the Davenport baseball team. Entering the games the Panthers were looking to charge up the GLIAC standings sitting at 4-7. The Pride were 9-3 and were looking to chase Ashland atop the standings. Davenport busted out offensively winning both games and scored 24 runs in the process. Three pitchers combined for an 8-0 shutout in game one and then the Panthers won 16-7 in game two behind 16 hits.

HOW IT HAPPENED
Davenport scored single runs in each of the first three innings in game one and Evan Marquardt made it hold up. The Panthers used 14 hits to their advantage and also a wind that was blowing out at 20-25 miles per hour. DU totaled seven extra-base hits with four doubles, a triple and two home runs. Both of those home runs came off the bat of Noah Marcoux. It was the first multi-homer game of his career and he finished with four RBI. He led off the third inning with a solo shot to right center and then hit the first pitch he saw in the sixth over the fence in deep center field for a three-run bomb.

The Panthers scored five runs in that sixth inning to break open the game. Hunter Ruhstorfer had a RBI double to left center and Nolan Bryant had a RBI double down the left field line before the Marcoux homer. The Pride managed just six hits with three of those coming off Marquardt. He improved to 5-1 this season going five innings. He walked five and struck out six. Jacob Buchberger and Duncan Gillett each pitched a scoreless inning. Chad Patrick went six innings for the Pride and gave up six earned runs with no walks and four strikeouts.

The Panthers built a big 13-0 lead after three innings in game two. Kyle Flessner was chased after two innings and gave up eight hits and seven earned runs. Max Swan had four strong innings before giving up six runs in the fifth inning. Cal Djuraskovic entered in the fifth inning with one out and helped slow Purdue Northwest's momentum. He went 2.2 innings and allowed no hits with six strikeouts to get the win (2-2).

Alex Huard tied his career-high with five RBI going 2-for-4 including a bases-clearing double in the six-run second inning. Buchberger went 3-for-5 with two runs and three RBI. He homered to left on the first pitch he saw of the game and then Bryant on the next pitch made it back-to-back home runs for a 2-0 lead. They both now have seven home runs this season.

GAME NOTES
The first four hitters in the lineup combined for nine hits in game two. Bryant drove in two runs and scored four times to set a new career-high in that category. Marcoux drove in two runs and also drew a walk. Ruhstorfer drove in two runs and scored twice in game two. Davenport is now 6-0 against the Pride in the series history.

ON DECK
The two teams will conclude their series tomorrow with a doubleheader at Farmers Insurance Athletic Complex. The first pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m.