CALEDONIA, Mich. - The first game in the best-of-three series to advance to the super regional in the Midwest Regional #1 between Davenport and Indianapolis was something no one could have expected. The hot weather and strong winds made it a nightmare for pitchers as the Greyhounds (32-22) had a historic day in the 25-13 victory over the top-seeded Panthers (42-14). UIndy scored the most runs in their postseason history on 20 hits, which included five doubles, five home runs, and two triples. Davenport managed 17 hits on their own, but they weren't as much of the extra-base variety. DU had two doubles, two triples, and one home run.
Cody Hultink got DU on the board with his second home run of the season in the second inning. His two-run shot just was inside the left field pole and had plenty of hang time. Chase Mason gave UIndy the lead in the top of the third with a three-run home run to left. The ninth-hitter in the lineup Tre Hondras hit a two-run home run in the top of the fourth for a 5-2 lead. Easton Good made it back-to-back long balls to right field and the lead grew to 6-2.
Davenport came back with two runs in the bottom of the fourth.
Chase Kemp and
Logan Todd singled and then
Coltrane Rubner hit his first triple of the year to right center as both scored. The Greyhounds bounced right back with three runs in the top of the fifth. Nick Lukac had a one-out triple and Ian Kennedy had a RBI double to right center. Brayton Bowen then hit the team's fourth home run of the game to give UIndy a 9-4 lead.
The Panthers got six runs however in the bottom of the fifth to regain a 10-9 lead. They scored their six runs without recording an out.
Dylan Pawenski had a RBI single,
Michael Tchavdarov had a RBI double, Kemp had a RBI single, and Todd had a two-RBI triple to the wall in center field to tie the game.
Sam Clay gave DU a lead on another RBI single.
The Greyhounds responded with five runs in the top of the sixth as Branden Flanders replaced
Keegan Batka on the mound. UIndy tied the game on a caught stealing and advancement from third to the plate by Hondras. Austin Bode reached on a big error as the Greyhounds would go on to score four unearned runs.
The bottom of the sixth was another key moment.
Justin Johnson singled and Hultink walked to start the inning. Pawenski then drilled a ball halfway up the batter's eye wall in straight away center field, but Johnson only advanced to third and Hultink moved to second to load the bases. DU would only get one run on a sacrifice fly and it seemed to halt momentum.
Connor Apligian stopped a streak of four straight innings where UIndy scored with a clean 1-2-3 top of the seventh. DU got two runs back in the bottom half as
Xander Reisbig hit an 0-2 pitch to plate Clay and Johnson nearly missed a home run with a sacrifice fly to left making it 14-13.
UIndy broke away for good in the top of the eighth with six runs on five hits to take a 20-13 lead. Luke Smock had a two-RBI single and Good smacked a two-RBI double down the right field line. The Greyhounds finished with five runs in the top of the ninth. Smock had the big hit with UIndy's fifth home run of the game. It was a three-run shot against
Parker Neel, who was pitching for the first time this season as a position player.
Flanders took the loss as DU's second pitcher. He recorded one out, but allowed four runs (one earned) with two hits and a walk. Austin Bestul (9-5) was the third pitcher for the Greyhounds and picked up the win. He lasted two innings and allowed three runs on five hits. Frankie Klemm was the most efficient pitcher of the day with 2.1 innings and allowed no hits with two strikeouts.
Davenport will now need to win twice on Saturday to advance to the super regionals. The first game begins at noon with the if-necessary game to follow.
