NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The Davenport University softball team opened its 2020 season and the Amber Bowman era on Saturday at Trevecca Nazarene. The Panthers won a neutral affair against Missouri S&T, 3-1, before falling to the Trojans in the nightcap, 9-4.

The Panthers sent Ellie Muilenburg out to make the start in the season opener and the junior didn't disappoint. Muilenburg went the distance for her 21st career complete game and did so with 70 strikes on 113 total pitches. The Grandville native struck out eight batters and walked four with just one earned run allowed on four hits.

Offensively, Briana Allen tied the game with an RBI single in the bottom of the fourth that brought in Rachel Griffin. The very next inning, Selene Pauley hit a go-ahead two-run shot to center, Gabby Palazzolo touched the plate as well and Davenport had a 3-1 lead. Muilenburg was stellar the rest of the way and the Panthers improved to 1-0.

Against Trevecca Nazarene, Davenport struck first when Griffin launched a three-run blast to left in the top of the first that also scored Alexa Flores and Pauley. However, the Trojans responded with six runs, all of them coming in the third inning. In the fourth, Griffin went deep again, this time with a solo shot to left that made it a 6-4 game. That would be all the scoring for the Panthers, though, as the Trojans scored three more times before the end of the game.

Taylor Simon (0-1) and Emma Miller each pitched three innings as Simon gave up six earned runs and Miller surrendered three runs, one earned.

Next up, Davenport will face Trevecca Nazarene again on Sunday with the first pitch set for 12 p.m. eastern time.

Story by: Cooper Weidenthaler