ROMEOVILLE, Ill. – The Davenport baseball team found a nemesis in the form of Lewis University over the weekend as the Flyers completed a four-game sweep of the Panthers by scores of 8-2 and 10-6 at Brennen Field on Sunday.
Davenport entered the weekend on a high after a three-win weekend against Grand Valley State, which propelled them to No. 11 in the ABCA Division II poll this week. The Flyers were receiving votes and they will be receiving way more votes after this weekend's dominant performance.
The Panthers are now 21-10 overall and had not lost more than two straight this season heading into this series.
Conor Gausselin was making his second start of the season and before today he had given up just two earned runs in seven previous appearances. The Flyers chased him in the fourth inning as he gave up eight earned runs in 3.2 innings on nine hits with two strikeouts. His counterpart Brendan Lawry improved to 6-0 on the mound this season by going six innings and allowing two earned runs on five hits with three walks and four strikeouts.
Davenport could not collect any extra-base hits in game one on seven singles.
Sam Clay in the leadoff spot went 2-for-4 as the only Panthers with multiple hits.
Dylan Pawenski and
Logan Todd each had a RBI in the contest.
Lewis trailed 6-4 heading into the bottom of the seventh inning in game two, but scored six times to take the game by a score of 10-6.
Ian Dixon lasted just three hitters to start the inning as he hit two batters sandwiched between a double.
Colton Blankstrom entered and Jackson Hunley had a RBI single to make it 6-5. Tyler Phommanchanhom gave Lewis the lead for good with a two-run scoring single to right for a 7-6 lead.
The Panthers grounded out in a double play in the eighth and ninth innings to end any comeback hopes. Kaleb Schulist (2-0) got the win in relief as the third pitcher of the game for Lewis. He went two innings and allowed three hits and three earned runs. Daniel Rosado earned his first save of the season by finishing the final two innings and allowing no runs with two strikeouts.
Dixon would take the loss (0-2) only throwing to those three batters in the seventh.
Austin VanderMarkt got the start and lasted 5.2 innings. He allowed four earned runs on nine hits with two walks and four strikeouts. Clay and
Garrett Swan each hit a home run for the Panthers. Swan had a solo shot in the third inning and Clay had a two-run blast in the sixth which gave DU a 6-2 lead at the time. Clay, Swan,
Cody Hultink, and Todd each had two hits in game two.
Davenport will get back to GLIAC play on Friday, Apr. 11 as they welcome Parkside for a four-game series at The Farm in Caledonia. The first pitch on Friday for the single game is scheduled for 3:00 PM.
