UNIVERSITY CENTER, Mich. – Davenport increased their win streak to 11 games after winning game one of their doubleheader at Saginaw Valley State. The Panthers defeated the Cardinals 5-4 in game one, but Saginaw Valley took game two 5-3 and ended DU's win streak. The 11-game win streak is the longest for DU since joining the GLIAC last season. Mallory Teunissen earned her 16^th win of the season and the Panthers remain in second place in the GLIAC with only four regular-season games left.
 
Game 1-Tuesday, April 23 at 3:30 p.m. ET
Final Score: Davenport University-5 | Saginaw Valley State-4
Location: University Center, Mich.
Records: DU (28-16, 20-7) | SVSU (20-21, 10-15)


 
Inside The Box
Lauren French (0-2, R, 2 BB)
Abby Merice (2-3, R, RBI, 2 2B, SH)
Rachel Griffin (1-3, R, RBI, SF)
Mariah Cura (1-3, RBI, BB)
Alexis Koza (1-3, 2 RBI)
Teunissen (W, 16-5) 7 IP, 5 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 8 BB, SO
 
Game one was closer than predicted heading into the doubleheader. The Panthers came out on top, which is always a tough task when playing a conference game on the road. Davenport's offense scored early, scoring two runs in the top of the first. Merice doubled to right field, scoring Gabby Palazzolo, then Griffin hit a sacrifice fly to center field, scoring French. The Cardinals responded with two runs of their own and the game was tied 2-2 after one complete. Neither team scored in the second and third inning. The Panthers built up their lead by scoring two in the fourth and one in the fifth. In the fourth, Koza singled up the middle and Jorden Urban and Griffin scored on the play, In the fifth, Cura singled to left center, scoring Merice. Saginaw Valley State scored a pair in the bottom of the sixth, cutting the Panthers lead down to only one. DU didn't score in the top of the seventh and Teunissen was tasked to hold the one-run lead in the bottom of the seventh. She got two batters to ground out and another to line out, ending the inning and securing the game one win.
 
Game 2-Tuesday, April 23 at 5:30 p.m. ET
Final Score: Davenport University-3 | Saginaw Valley State-5
Location: University Center, Mich.
Records: DU (28-17, 20-8) | SVSU (21-21, 11-15)
 
Inside The Box
Palazzolo (2-4, 2 R, 2 SB)
French (1-2, R, RBI, 2 BB, SB)
Griffin (1-4, RBI)
Cura (0-3, RBI, SF)
Taylor Simon (L, 4-3) 6 IP, 6 H, 5 R, 5 ER, BB, 2 SO
 
Davenport started game two off a little slower offensively than in game one. The Cardinals scored the initial run of the game, scoring one run in the bottom of the first to take a 1-0 lead. French singled up the middle in the top of the third, scoring Palazzolo and tying the game at 1-1. The Panthers scored a pair in the fifth, going up 3-1. Griffin singled up the middle, scoring Palazzolo, then Cura hit a sacrifice fly, scoring French. Saginaw Valley State responded with a run in the bottom half of the inning, cutting the lead down to one. The Cardinals had a momentum shifting sixth inning, scoring three runs and taking a 5-3 lead. Davenport was held scoreless in the seventh inning and their win streak was snapped.
 
Up Next
Davenport remains in second place in the GLIAC after the split, holding a four-game lead over the closest team. The Panthers have nearly locked up the second seed for the GLIAC Tournament. Davenport still has four regular-season games remaining though, two against Ashland on Friday and two against Wayne State on Saturday.
 
Story by: Devin Steiner
 
Picture credit: Walter Cronk