CALEDONIA, Mich. - The Davenport softball team dropped a wild game one on Wednesday afternoon against Northwood, 10-6, but bounced back nicely in the nightcap for a much quieter 1-0 win over the Timberwolves to earn the split. Next up, the Panthers will continue this 12-game homestand on Saturday with a doubleheader against No. 17 Grand Valley State and first pitch in game one is scheduled for 1 p.m.

Following the split, Davenport is 9-12 overall and 5-4 in GLIAC play while Northwood sits at 15-7 on the season and 7-5 in league action. The Panthers now lead the all-time series with the Timberwolves, 10-6, which includes a 7-3 mark at Farmers Insurance Athletic Complex.

The day's first matchup featured a total of 16 runs on on 17 hits with eight errors on the defensive end. Heading to the bottom of the sixth inning, Northwood seemed to be in complete control with a 10-1 lead as Davenport's one run scored in the fourth when Kaycee Loehr reached on a fielding error by the first baseman and Alexis Koza came in to score.

Fast forward to that home half of the sixth and the Panthers' next two runs came when Koza reached on an error by the shortstop to score pinch-runner Kenzie Wilkinson and Anelise Worden reached on a fielder's choice before Nikki Szost scored on another error by the shortstop. Mariah Cura then scored on a wild pitch and Taylor Simon singled in Koza with the first hit and RBI of her career. That made the score 10-5 before a Rylie Kalina shot in the seventh (third of the season) made it 10-6, which is where it stood until the final out was recorded.

In the circle, Ellie Muilenburg (4-6) gave up seven runs, six earned, on seven hits with four walks and five strikeouts. Simon pitched the final inning and two-thirds in relief while surrendering three earned runs on four hits to go with two free passes and two punchouts.

In the rematch, Emma Miller's (4-4) complete-game shutout and Rachel Griffin's solo homerun (team-leading fourth of the season) in the bottom of the sixth were the difference for Davenport. Miller gave up just one hit, a two-out double to right center in the fourth, with no walks and five strikeouts.

Story by: Cooper Weidenthaler