By: Ryan Thompson, Assistant AD for Communications
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The baseball team has put together one of their best early-season stretches in recent memory as they enter Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference play this weekend at Purdue Northwest. DU has built a strong in-region resume with wins over Northwood, UMSL, Ashland, UIndy, and Quincy in the non-conference. They also were able to defeat No. 3 Central Missouri last Saturday in game one for their signature win to date. DU rallied from down 5-2 with three runs in the eighth to tie it and then pinch-hitter
Garrett Swan had the walk-off single in the bottom of the ninth. DU cracked the top 25 in the ABCA poll this week at No. 24 with a 14-5 record.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
The Panthers earned three wins last week with a split against No. 3 Central Missouri on Saturday and then a doubleheader sweep of Quincy on Monday. Davenport took the aforementioned game one in comeback fashion and the script was flipped in game two as the Mules trailed 5-2 through six innings, only to score the final five runs of the game for the 7-5 win. On Monday, DU and Quincy were in a tight contest with the Panthers leading 9-7 after seven innings in game one. Davenport then erupted for nine runs in the top of the eighth and mercy-ruled the Hawks 18-7. DU trailed 4-0 in game two and tied it up at 4-4 through five innings. More late-inning offense with three runs in the eighth and two more in the ninth gave DU a 9-7 victory.
The Panthers were able to hit .288 over the weekend while their opponents held a .276 batting average.
Zach Hopman led the team with a .417 batting average (5-12) with five runs scored and two RBI.
Coltrane Rubner batted .412 (7-17) in four starts with five runs scored, four RBI, and two steals.
Justin Johnson batted .400 (8-20) with seven runs scored, two home runs, and a team-high six RBI. Johnson currently leads the team with a .362 season batting average (25-69) with 17 runs scored, four home runs, and 19 RBI.
Connor Apligian got a relief win in game one against UCM. He went three innings and allowed two hits with no runs and a strikeout.
Conor Gausselin earned a save in game one versus Quincy as he finished the final 2.1 innings and allowed just one hit with no earned runs and five strikeouts.
Aidan Arbaugh got his first win as a Panther in game two against Quincy. He was the first reliever out of the bullpen and lasted 1.1 innings. He allowed no hits and retired all four batters he faced.
SERIES HISTORY
Purdue Northwest and Davenport have met 33 times and the Panthers lead the all-time series by a 27-6 margin. Davenport has won three straight over the Pride and are 7-3 over the last 10 meetings. The teams played seven times in 2024 including six times in the regular season and once in the GLIAC Tournament. DU took four of six in the regular season and then prevailed 3-1 in the conference tournament.
Austin VanderMarkt had a great outing in that win, going seven innings with seven strikeouts and one earned run allowed.
Michael Tchavdarov and
Chase Kemp are on the current roster, and each had a base hit.
SCOUTING THE OPPONENT
The Pride enter this weekend with an overall record of 8-4. They have had the luxury of playing six home games and are 5-1 in those contests. They most recently swept a twinbill at home against Thomas More on Tuesday, Mar. 18 at Dowling Park. Blake Newell threw four innings in the seven-inning affair and got the win in the 6-0 outcome. Newell allowed just one hit with two walks and two strikeouts. The Saints had several miscues which led to the first four runs being scored in the first inning. Owen Winters and Joey Guiliano each drove in a run in the fifth inning. The Pride then pounded out 20 hits in the 16-1 win in game two. PNW had an eight-run, first inning and never looked back. Kam Earley drove in three runs and went 4-for-5 with two doubles and a home run. Jayden Smith went 5-for-5 with two doubles and drove in four runs. Braylon Holland had a double in three at-bats with two walks and drove in three runs. The Pride were able to use five pitchers due to the large lead and Ryan Barmes got the win (1-0) as he started and threw two innings.
LIVE COVERAGE
Friday, Mar. 21 at Purdue Northwest (DH) – 2:00 PM ET –
Live Video –
Live Stats
Saturday, Mar. 22 at Purdue Northwest (DH) – 2:00 PM ET –
Live Video –
Live Stats
