GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The stage is set for an early conference test between two of the top teams in NCAA Division II this weekend at the Farmers Insurance Athletic Complex in Caledonia. After 23 games away from home to start the season, Davenport returns to square off with the Lakers of Grand Valley State in a four-game series. GVSU is ranked No. 17, and Davenport checks in at No. 22 in this week's ABCA Poll. The Lakers are 19-5 overall, while Davenport is 18-5. This should be an epic series, with DU currently 4-0 in the GLIAC and GVSU sitting at 3-1.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS
Davenport has won six straight games, including a four-game sweep at Purdue Northwest to begin GLIAC play last weekend. The Panthers outscored the Pride, 49-16, and improved to 31-6 in the all-time series against PNW. On Monday, the team also defeated Quincy in a doubleheader that was originally scheduled for Sunday. DU took game one 18-7 and game two 9-7.
Xander Reisbig had his best week of the season going 6-of-14 at the plate with six runs, two doubles, a homer, and a team-leading 10 RBI. He reached base at a 60 percent clip with five walks and was hit by a pitch once. Zach Hopman batted .417 (10-24) with a team-high 11 runs scored, one double, two triples, two home runs, and eight RBI. He slugged .875 for the week and stole five bags in six tries. Coltrane Rubner hit .391 (9-23) with nine runs scored, three doubles, and seven RBI. The Panthers hit .345 as a team with 10 homers and a .592 slugging percentage.

The team earned-run average was 5.17 this week with 40 strikeouts in 47 innings. Conor Gausselin made two appearances and earned two saves. He tossed 3.1 innings and allowed no earned runs with no walks and seven strikeouts. The bullpen was outstanding as five different players did not allow an earned run. Brandon Skorupski, Gausselin, Colton Blankstrom, Brayden Flanders, and Aidan Arbaugh combined to throw 15.1 innings and allowed just five hits with three walks and 14 strikeouts. Arbaugh and Skorupski each picked up a win in relief. Runs might be hard to come by this weekend as Grand Valley State ranks No. 11 (3.78) and the Panthers are No. 16 (3.89) in Division II in team ERA.

SERIES HISTORY
Davenport leads the all-time series by a count of 19-14. This series has seen its share of ebbs and flows. Grand Valley State has won the last five meetings after Davenport won the first two last season. In a period from 2021-23, Davenport had a 11-5 record against the Lakers. The Panthers have a 9-4 record in the series at home, averaging 6.7 runs per game overall in the 33 matchups.

SCOUTING THE OPPONENT
Grand Valley State has emerged along with Davenport as one of the top teams in the Midwest Region. D2Baseball.com writer Will Conerly produced a column on Mar. 18, that predicted that these two teams would square off in the super regional and he predicted Davenport would emerge from the Midwest Region. The Lakers were able to sweep UIndy in four games in late February and early March and recently have won seven of eight games coming against Gannon and Parkside. The pitching staff ranks No. 21 nationally and second in the conference with a 2.49 strikeout-to-walk ratio. They are also No. 16 in WHIP at 1.32.

Owen Avery has displayed the best command with four walks and 39 strikeouts, which ranks fifth in the country. He is 3-0 in 27.2 innings with a 2.93 ERA. Collin Bradley in 31 innings of work sports a paltry 1.16 ERA and a 2-2 record. Jayden Dentler has a 2.25 ERA in 36 innings and is 5-0.

Brendan Guciardo leads the squad with a .369 batting average (31-84) and has delivered 10 extra-base hits and 13 RBI. Jovan Gill has been the team's top run-producer with 33 RBI and is batting .341 with seven doubles, one triple, and six home runs. Jonas Gulbrandsen leads the team with nine round-trippers and is batting .363 (33-91) with 22 runs scored and 32 RBI. GVSU is hitting .320 as a team this season and has a 29-8 edge in home runs.

LIVE COVERAGE
Friday, Mar. 28 vs. Grand Valley State (DH) – 3:00 PM – Live Video – Live Stats
Saturday, Mar. 29 vs. Grand Valley State – 1:00 PM – Live Video – Live Stats
Sunday, Mar. 30 vs. Grand Valley State – 12:00 PM – Live Video – Live Stats

All video is courtesy of FloCollege

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