CALEDONIA, Mich. - The Davenport baseball team added a non-conference game against Calvin on Wednesday (April 25) as they tune up for a big four-game series with Wayne State. The Panthers got the chance to start a lot of reserves in this one and in the end fell 10-8 to the Knights.

HOW IT HAPPENED
The Panthers sent Cole Sanderson to the hill and the Knights countered with freshman Eli Johnson from Stillwater, Oklahoma. Sanderson was making his second start of the season while Johnson also was making his second start. Both guys lasted two innings for their respective teams. Davenport held a 3-1 lead with three runs in the bottom of the second. Connor Zuidema singled with two outs and Sterling Anderson responded with his first hit of the season to center. Gaetano Vallone at the top of the order then tripled home both runners for the lead and scored himself on a wild pitch.

Duncan Gillett replaced Sanderson and would throw the next 3.1 innings. He allowed five hits and four runs but just one was earned. The Knights then brought in Jacob Schuurman to throw the next two innings. Calvin got a pair of runs in the top of the third to tie it.

Each team scored a run in the fifth inning. Cobe Huizenga walked to lead off and stole second with one out. He stole third with two outs and then Jake Bozzo doubled him home to tie it at 4-4. Calvin scored three runs in the top of the sixth as Gillett was replaced by Sam Traver. Traver got a double play liner to end the inning.

Kyle Peets pitched in the sixth for Calvin as DU scored twice. Darren Rydzewski reached on an error to start and Zuidema singled through the right side of the infield. Another error by the Knights on a fielder's choice allowed two runners in scoring position. Jacob Buchberger pinch hit and singled up the middle for two RBI as Davenport trailed 7-6.

Davenport took an 8-7 lead with two runs in the bottom of the seventh. Zach Thor became the fifth pitcher of the game for Calvin. Dylan Watson greeted him with a game-tying home run to left field. Travis Harvey pinch hit with two outs and tripled down the right field line. Alex Huard pinch hit for Zuidema and singled up the middle to give the Panthers a one-run lead.

Calvin answered with three runs in the top of the eighth. Traver could not prevent the Knights from scoring three times to take a 10-8 advantage. Matt Raymond tripled to right with one out and Ryan Petersen singled up the middle to tie the game at 8-8. Ricky Padilla delivered the game-winning hit with a triple to center as Calvin took a 9-8 lead. Padilla scored the 10th run on a wild pitch.

The Panthers were retired in order in the eighth and then Watson struck out the side in the top of the ninth. Justin Paauwe came on for the save and picked up his third of the season. Watson walked to start the ninth but was caught stealing. Paauwe got Bozzo to fly out and Kamrin Markwardt to ground out to end the game.

GAME NOTES
Traver took the loss moving to 0-1 this season. Thor picked up the win improving to 2-3 on the mound for Calvin. The game lasted three hours and eight minutes. Zuidema went 2-for-3 with two runs and was the only Panther with multiple hits. Vallone scored twice and drove in two runs. Davenport now leads the all-time series 3-2 and it was the first time in seven years for the teams to face each other.

ON DECK
The Panthers (23-15) will now turn to No. 16 Wayne State (29-9) in the biggest four-game series of the season in the GLIAC. The Panthers are fighting for a spot in the GLIAC Tournament sitting in fifth place at 9-10. The Warriors are in second place behind Ashland with a 13-6 conference mark. Wayne State is also ranked first in the Midwest Region after the first release by the NCAA.