By: Ryan Thompson, Assistant AD for Communications
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - The Davenport baseball team ran into a buzzsaw last weekend as they dropped all four games at No. 4 Central Missouri to start the season. This week doesn't get any easier as the Panthers travel to Illinois-Springfield to face one of the perennial powers in the Midwest Region of NCAA Division II. The Prairie Stars will be playing at home for the first time this season after going 4-2 thus far. UIS has accomplished 36 or more wins in every season since 2018 and went 36-15 last season while finishing second in the Great Lakes Valley Conference. They have made five straight appearances in the NCAA Midwest Regionals and have one trip to the Division II World Series back in 2022.
CENTRAL MISSOURI SERIES
The Mules picked up a 3-1 win in game one on Saturday and then won the next three games by a margin of 32-9.
Carson Price had a solo home run in the sixth inning to get DU on the board. UCM scored in the second inning on a Chase Heath RBI single and again in the fifth inning on a Jack Schark solo home run. The final run was scored in the bottom of the sixth on a passed ball. The doubleheader on Saturday and Sunday consisted of a seven-inning game followed by a nine-inning game.
Price homered again in game two during the fifth inning after DU trailed 2-0. Schark homered again for the Mules in the bottom of the fifth as part of a three-run inning and a 5-1 lead. Central Missouri scored five times in the seventh to break it open. Jacob Steele had a RBI single in the inning and finished 3-for-3 with four RBI and two runs scored for UCM. Davenport scored one more time in the eighth inning on a fielder's choice off the bat of
Josh Robinson and a throwing error.
In game one on Sunday, DU took a 1-0 lead in the top of the third inning on a
Sam Clay solo home run, his first as a Panther. Carter Young hit an inside-the-park, two-run homer in the bottom of the third to gain a 2-1 lead. Robinson used the long ball to tie the game in the fourth inning. Brett Grupe had a RBI single as part of a four-run, fourth inning for the Mules who led 6-2. Steele also laid down a bunt to plate a run and two runs scored on a sacrifice fly from Brennen van Breusega.
Anthony Aloisio had an infield RBI single in the sixth inning for DU's third run. Vance Tobol collected a double, triple, and home run just a single short of the cycle for UCM. He finished 3-for-4 with two runs and four RBI.
The series finale was a 10-4 win which improved the Mules to 9-2 overall. Robinson had a RBI double in the first inning and Price singled home a run for a 2-0 lead. Central Missouri answered with a run in home half of the first inning as Young homered to left center. DU would not score again until the seventh inning down 10-2.
Logan Todd and Clay scored on a throwing error as the Mules were attempting to turn a double play.
Aloisio led the team going 4-for-9 with three walks. Robinson batted .417 going 5-for-12 with three RBI in the series. Price batted .400 with two homers and three RBI. As a team, Davenport hit .175 going 18-for-103. The team also posted a 9.96 earned-run average allowing 42 hits and 31 earned runs in 28 innings.
SERIES HISTORY
This will be the first meetings between the schools.
SCOUTING THE OPPONENT
Illinois-Springfield has gone 2-1 in two different weekend segments during the early portion of 2024. They started off with a three-game set at Tusculum University in Greeneville, Tenn. from Feb. 9-11. UIS won the first two games by scores of 8-2 and 4-3, before falling 5-4 in the final game of the series. They took part in the Missouri Southern Lion Classic last weekend in Joplin, Mo. Much like the first weekend, they won the first two games against University of Mary (13-3) and Minnesota State Mankato (11-9) before losing to No. 14 Missouri Southern (5-2).
Mark Kattula has been red-hot in the first six games for the Prairie Stars batting .478 (11-for-23) with seven runs scored, four doubles, two home runs, and a team-high 11 RBI. Mack Clark is batting .381 (8-for-21) this season in five games played with three doubles, one homer, and four RBI. UIS is hitting .294 as a team with five home runs and 38 RBI. The team earned-run average is sitting at 4.50 in 50 innings of work. Adam Wibbenmeyer has not allowed an earned run in 6.1 innings of relief allowing just two hits with six strikeouts. Gavin Wahlbrink is 2-0 on the mound with a 1.64 ERA in 11 innings. He has allowed nine hits with 12 strikeouts. The pitching staff has allowed just 23 walks in 50 innings this season and opponents are batting .225 against them.
LIVE COVERAGE
Friday, Feb. 23 at Illinois-Springfield (2:00 PM ET) -
Live Video -
Live Stats
Saturday, Feb. 24 at Illinois-Springfield (1:00 PM ET - DH) -
Live Video -
Live Stats
Sunday, Feb. 25 at Illinois-Springfield (1:00 PM ET) -
Live Video -
Live Stats
