CALEDONIA, Mich. - The matchup between last year's GLIAC Tournament finalists did not disappoint on Thursday night as the Panthers and Timberwolves battled for three hours before Davenport picked up a 6-5 win under the lights. The Panthers had struggled in one-run games this season (2-6) but got a strong relief appearance from Pete Zeimis and broke the tie with a run in the bottom of the eighth to take the series opener.

HOW IT HAPPENED
It was a shaky start as Evan Marquardt struggled to find the strike zone consistently in the first inning. He threw 39 pitches in the top of the first, but still managed to allow just one run despite walking the bases loaded. He walked three of the first four batters, but also struck out two before Trevor Polewka hit a single off the first base bag which scored David Vinsky. Marquardt completed the inning with his third strikeout to limit the damage.

Davenport tied the game in the bottom of the second against Jake Gross. Kamrin Markwardt struck out with one out but the ball got away and Markwardt advanced all the way to second base. Alex Huard took advantage with a RBI single to center.

Northwood regained a 3-1 lead in the top of the fourth. Travis Janes singled and stole second to start the inning. Connor Kin followed with a walk and then Michael Karam doubled to left center driving home two runs. Marquardt exited after four innings after allowing four hits and three runs. He walked six and struck out five in 97 pitches (52 strikes).

The Panthers forged ahead with four runs in the bottom of the fifth to lead 5-3. DU sent 10 men to the plate in the inning as Jake Bozzo and Hunter Ruhstorfer led off with singles. Jacob Buchberger drew one of his three walks to load the bases. Nolan Bryant drove home a run on a groundout to first as Bozzo scored. Noah Marcoux then delivered a big hit with a double to right as Ruhstorfer and Buchberger scored. Markwardt on an 0-2 pitch later had a RBI single to center which scored Marcoux.

The Timberwolves would tie the game with two runs in the top of the sixth off Spencer Vainavicz. Kin singled to left center with one out and Karam followed with a single. Vinsky drove home Kin with a single through the right side and Colin McClelland had a sacrifice fly to tie the game.

Zeimis entered in the top of the seventh and retired the Timberwolves in order. He then stranded two runners on base in the top of the eighth as Bryant made two great plays on foul pop ups. Huard started the bottom of the eighth with a single up the middle. Ruhstorfer singled with one out as Huard moved to third. Buchberger was intentionally walked to load the bases and Bryant came through on an 0-2 pitch with a slow grounder to shortstop which allowed Huard to score the winning run.

Zeimis in the top of the ninth walked the second batter and he took second on a failed catch at first on a pickoff attempt. He punched out Polewka looking for the second out and got pinch hitter Brooks Ullery to swing and miss on a 2-2 pitch to end the game.

GAME NOTES
Zeimis improved to 3-1 with the win allowing just one hit in his three innings. He walked two and struck out four. He now has a 2.82 ERA this season. Peter Joseph took the loss (1-2) for Northwood. The sidearmer went 2.1 innings in relief of Gross and allowed four hits with a walk and three strikeouts. Bryant and Marcoux each had a double and two RBI for the Panthers. Buchberger continued his top-notch play reaching base five times with three walks and two singles.

ON DECK
The Panthers (22-11, 9-7 GLIAC) will look to continue their six-game win streak tomorrow at 1 p.m. as they play a doubleheader against Northwood (24-13, 9-8 GLIAC).