SMYRNA, Tenn. -  In a battle of the Panthers, the Davenport University softball team defeated Kentucky Wesleyan in its first game of the Music City Invitational, 12-11 Friday evening at Cedar Stone Park in Smyrna, Tenn.

Aaliyah Walker recorded her first career collegiate hit, bringing home two runners and scoring herself as the right fielder struggled to possess the ball in the bottom of the second inning. Gabby Palazzolo scored the final run of the inning as DU (1-0, 0-0 GLIAC) trailed 5-4.

After holding KWC (2-4, 0-0 G-MAC) scoreless in the top of the third, Monica Meger hit a double to bring home Hayley Kreiger and set the score at five apiece. Alex Rendon and Becca Daoust scored the 6th and 7th runs for Davenport to gain its first lead in the contest, 7-5.

With the score knotted at 10-10 in the bottom of the fifth inning, Kreiger registered her second hit of the game, a single to bring home Riley Hasseld and propelling DU to a one-point advantage.

Kentucky Wesleyan tied the game up once again in the top of the sixth inning. However, Daoust scored the game-winning run as Hasseld hit a single just over the head of the pitcher to seal the game. 

Daoust led the way for the Panthers, batting a perfect 3-for-3 and scoring two runs. Hasseld added two hits, two RBIs, and a run, while Kreiger finished with three runs, two hits, and an RBI for DU.

In the circle, MaKayla Thompson got the victory, only allowing one run over the final three innings and registering two strikeouts.

The Panthers will return to action tomorrow for day two of the Music City Invitational against Findlay at 12 p.m. and No. 14 Indianapolis at 2 p.m. in Smyrna, Tenn. at  Cedar Stone Park.