CALEDONIA, Mich. - The first game of the weekend series between Davenport and Purdue Northwest hinged on a four-run sixth inning for the Pride as they took the series opener 5-3 at The Farm on Friday in GLIAC action. The Panthers won the first two games of the season series back on Mar. 22 in Hammond, Indiana, but the Pride used the surprise pitching of Sam Ochoa and relievers Ethan Getting and Andrew Petsche to just their second win in the conference this season (2-7). Ochoa entered the game with an 0-2 record and 10.80 earned-run average, but numbers apparently can be deceiving. Ochoa allowed two runs in the second inning but then kept the Panthers off the board over his final five innings.
Xander Reisbig had a RBI single to left and
Connor Hnilo also had a RBI single through the left side of the infield to give DU a 2-0 lead.
Carson Fischer was pitching very well for Davenport as he retired the first eight batters before a two-out single by Aden Johnson in the third inning. He allowed only two hits and no runs in the first five innings before things went downward in the sixth. Johnson started it off with a single up the middle. The nine-hole hitter for the Pride finished with a team-high three hits in four at-bats. Drake Ballard then battled to a walk on seven pitches. Luke Montgomery laid down a sacrifice bunt and Fischer fielded it towards the third base line and fired it down the right field line for an error which allowed Johnson to score and Ballard to move to third and Montgomery into second base. The next batter was Beldon Glasgow and he took a 1-0 pitch over the right center field wall and off the scoreboard for a massive three-run home run and a 4-2 lead. It was Glasgow's first home run of the season and only the third team home run for Purdue Northwest all season in over 600 at-bats.
Purdue Northwest added another run in the eighth inning as Glasgow sliced a single to right and the ball was misplayed by
Coltrane Rubner allowing two extra bases and Glasgow on third with one out. Jax Kalemba had a clutch two-out RBI single to left center to score Glasgow for a 5-2 advantage. Ochoa lasted seven innings after throwing just 6.2 innings all season in two previous starts. He allowed eight hits and two runs with a walk and two strikeouts. He got his first win of the season improving to 1-2 and used 87 pitches.
Getting retired the side in order in the bottom of the eighth and then
Brayden Flanders replaced Fischer to start the top of the ninth. He allowed two base runners on singles but held them on base for a 5-2 deficit heading into the bottom of the ninth. Andrew Petsche came on for the Pride and walked
Michael Tchavdarov to start the inning. Tchavdarov had a great game at the plate reaching all four times with a triple, double, single, and walk.
Jared Evans delivered a RBI double on a full count down the left field line to make it 5-3. Hnilo then representing the tying run at the plate took three very questionable strikes and struck out looking to end the game. Evans finished 2-for-3 at the dish and he also drew a walk. Petsche despite giving up a run in the ninth recorded his fourth save of the season and needed 24 pitches to do it.
The two teams will play a doubleheader tomorrow beginning at 1:00 PM at the Farmers Insurance Athletic Complex in Caledonia.
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