CALEDONIA, Mich. - The Davenport University softball team swept Saginaw Valley State for the second time ever, but first time at home on Saturday, thanks to scores of 9-1 in five innings and 3-1 in the nightcap. Next up, the Panthers will host Wayne State on Sunday for Senior Day with the first pitch in game one scheduled for 11 a.m. at The Farm.

Davenport improved to 18-20 overall and 10-10 in GLIAC play while Saginaw Valley State (29-15, 15-7 GLIAC) was run ruled for the first time this season and dropped both ends of a doubleheader for just the third time this spring. The Panthers pulled within four of the Cardinals in the all-time series, 11-7.

In game one, Davenport scored five runs in the first inning, one in the third and three more in the fifth to walk it off in five frames. A pair of Panthers notched multiple hits including Alexis Koza (3-for-3, 1 R, 1 RBI, 2B) and Emma Miller (2-for-3, 2 R, 1 RBI, solo HR). Brooke Cowan (walk-off 2-R HR) and Monica Meger each brought in three while Lindsay Goodman added an RBI as well.

That was plenty of run support for Emma Miller (10-10) who gave up one unearned run on four hits with no walks and two strikeouts while snapping a three-outing skid without a victory.

In the nightcap, Ellie Muilenburg (8-10) was brilliant once again as she moved into sole possession of fourth place on the program's career strikeout chart with 457. Muilenburg needed 10 punchouts for third place, got 12 and didn't walk a single batter in the process. That effort marked the 10th time in her career that the right-hander struck out 10 or more batters, but the first time she did so without a free pass.

Davenport struck first in the bottom of the second when Rachel Griffin and Muilenburg hit back-to-back jacks. Prior to Saturday, Saginaw Valley State's Julia Mundy had surrendered just two home runs all season, neither of which were in the same game or same inning, for that matter. Mundy also allowed three or more earned runs for just the third time this year.

The Panthers added a third run the next inning when Griffin doubled in Riley Hasseld all the way from first base. The Cardinals cut the deficit to two, 3-1, in the top of the sixth with an RBI single down the left field line, but could do no more damage.

Story by: Cooper Weidenthaler
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