Davenport University Athletics

DAVENPORT UNIVERSITY PANTHERS

Walter Cronk

Softball 4/21/2023 12:35:00 PM Justice Steiner, Assistant Manager of Athletic Communications

Softball Preview: Panthers Seek Revenge in Rematch with No. 7 GVSU

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - The Davenport Softball team looks to get back in the win column as they will travel to Allendale, Mich. to take on crosstown rival No. 7 Grand Valley State University on Saturday afternoon. It has been a week since the Panthers (11-24, 5-9 GLIAC) stepped on the diamond. In their last time out, DU dropped a pair of games to Ferris State on Saturday, April 15 at the Farmers Insurance Athletic Complex.

Record Watch:
Second baseman Gabby Palazzolo is three hits away from becoming the programs' all-time career hits leader. Amber Getty (2011-14) currently holds the top spot with 226 hits in her time with Davenport.

The senior has already made her mark on the record books, holding the most stolen bases (65) and assists (364) in school history, as well as the highest stolen base percentage (.956). Palazzolo also set the single-game home run record (3) in a 5-3 win over Findlay earlier this year, all of which were inside the park.

Scouting the Lakers:
#7 Grand Valley State (31-3, 13-0 GLIAC)
Series Record: Grand Valley State leads 19-2
Earlier This Season:
The Lakers defeated the Panthers twice this season (7-2, 6-2) in a doubleheader on April 7 at the Farmers Insurance Athletic Complex.

Game 1
Result: L, 7-2
How it Happened:
Following a solo home run by the Lakers in the top of the fourth inning, Emma Miller responded for the Panthers as she singled one past the pitcher to bring home Lindsay Goodman for their first run of the afternoon.

The bats remained hot in the fifth inning as Riley Hasseld rounded the bases off a Hayley Kreiger rocket down the left-field line for DU to set the score at 3-2 in favor of GVSU.

Hasseld led the Panthers with two hits, one of which was a double while adding a run. Kreiger, Miller, Gabby Palazzolo, Goodman, and Brooke Cowan added a hit for Davenport.

Kelsey Byers pitched six innings for DU, tossing three strikeouts, while Miller pitched the final inning.

Game 2
Result: L, 6-2 (10 Inn.)
How it Happened:
With the game on the line and two strikes on the board, Goodman sent the game into extra innings as she drilled a double to deep right-center field in the bottom of the seventh to bring home Hassled to tie the game at two runs apiece.

Palazzolo scored the first run of the contest for DU, as Goodman batted her in on a single in the bottom of the third inning to tie the game 1-1.

Once in extra innings, there were only a combined two hits in the eighth and ninth innings. GVSU sealed the game in the top of the 10th as they brought home four runs on four hits.

Hasseld again led the Panthers' offense, registering two hits and a run. Goodman also added a pair of hits and RBIs for DU. Palazzolo chipped in with a double, while Brooke Bernt added a hit for the Panthers.

MaKayla Thompson recorded a season-high five strikeouts in the circle, pitching 5.2 innings for the Panthers. Miller pitched the opening 3.2 innings, tossing two strikeouts, while Elise Magnus saw game action in the final inning.

A Deeper Dive:
Grand Valley State is a perfect 10-0 at home this season and enters the crosstown showdown on a 15-game winning streak.

The Lakers have one of the most lethal pitchers in the country, Hannah Beatus. The senior entered the year earning GLIAC Pitcher of the Year honors in consecutive seasons (2021 and 2022), as well as All-American honors in both years. Beatus currently leads the nation with an impressive 0.43 ERA while leading the GLIAC in Strikeouts (110), WHIP (0.70), and shutouts (9).

Offensively, the Lakers are one of the most efficient teams in the GLIAC, leading the conference in team batting average (0.356). GVSU rosters the top three hitters in terms of batting average; Lydia Goble (0.46), Morgan Wagner (0.45), and Joanna Cirrincione (0.44). Both Goble and Cirrincione garnered All-American honors a season ago.

Live Coverage:
Saturday, April 22 at Grand Valley State (1 PM) - Live Video (FloSports) - Live Stats

Print Friendly Version

Players Mentioned

#11 Brooke Bernt: OF; 5' 4"; Sophomore; R/R

#7 Brooke Cowan: C; 5' 4"; Junior; R/R

#23 Lindsay Goodman: IF; 5' 6"; Senior; R/R

#5 Riley Hasseld: OF; 5' 7"; Sophomore; L/R

#6 Elise Magnus: P; 5' 9"; Junior; R/R

#32 Emma Miller: P; 5' 6"; Senior; R/L

#1 Gabby Palazzolo: IF; 5' 5"; Senior; L/R

#15 MaKayla Thompson: P; 5' 7"; Redshirt Junior; L/L

#28 Kelsey Byers: P; 5' 7"; Graduate Student; R/R

#13 Hayley Kreiger: IF; 6' 1"; Graduate Student; R/R

Players Mentioned

#11 Brooke Bernt
: 5' 4"; Sophomore; R/R
: OF

#7 Brooke Cowan
: 5' 4"; Junior; R/R
: C

#23 Lindsay Goodman
: 5' 6"; Senior; R/R
: IF

#5 Riley Hasseld
: 5' 7"; Sophomore; L/R
: OF

#6 Elise Magnus
: 5' 9"; Junior; R/R
: P

#32 Emma Miller
: 5' 6"; Senior; R/L
: P

#1 Gabby Palazzolo
: 5' 5"; Senior; L/R
: IF

#15 MaKayla Thompson
: 5' 7"; Redshirt Junior; L/L
: P

#28 Kelsey Byers
: 5' 7"; Graduate Student; R/R
: P

#13 Hayley Kreiger
: 6' 1"; Graduate Student; R/R
: IF