JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. — Davenport baseball had a very interesting split doubleheader on Friday on a neutral field against the University of Indianapolis. The Panthers scored 16 runs in each game of the doubleheader but split the results. They lost 17-16 in 11 innings in the first game and then proceeded to win 16-6 in the nightcap under the lights at the TVA Credit Union Ballpark.
GAME 1
Davenport narrowly fell to the Greyhounds with a 17-16 loss which featured several plot twists. Davenport's offense displayed resilience, collecting 23 hits, including a home run by
Justin Johnson, his first of the season. Despite leading early with a four-run first inning, the Panthers were unable to hold off the Greyhounds, which secured the win with a decisive run in the 11th inning.
Davenport opened the game by scoring four runs in the bottom of the first inning.
Sam Clay reached first on an error, and
Cody Hultink's double brought Clay home. An RBI fielder's choice by
Aiden Warn and a single by
Dylan Pawenski added two more runs, aided by fielding errors, bringing the score to 4-2 in favor of Davenport after one inning.
In the second inning, Hultink smacked his first home run of the season to right field with
Wyatt Epple on base, adding two runs to Davenport's lead. The score was 6-2 after two innings. Indianapolis responded in the third inning with a two-run homer by Austin Bode, tightening Davenport's lead to 6-4.
The Greyhounds surged ahead in the fifth inning, scoring six runs, including a two-run homer by Brayton Bowen. Davenport did not score in the bottom half, and Indianapolis led 10-6. In the sixth inning, both teams added a run. Garrett Rusch scored for UIndy, while Clay scored for the Panthers on a bases-loaded walk. The score was 11-7 in favor of Indianapolis.
Davenport narrowed the gap in the seventh inning with two runs. Clay tripled to bring home a run, and Epple followed with an RBI single. In the eighth inning, the Panthers scored another run when Johnson advanced and scored on a passed ball and fielding error, ending the inning trailing 11-10.
In the bottom of the ninth, Davenport tied the game at 13-13. Johnson and Warn scored on errors and passed balls, with Pawenski driving in the tying run on a two-out single. Both teams scored three runs in the 10th inning, highlighted by a two-run homer from Joey Humphrey for UIndy and RBI singles from Epple and Hultink for the Panthers, keeping the game tied at 16-16.
Indianapolis took the lead in the 11th inning when Bode scored on a sacrifice fly, resulting in a 17-16 victory over Davenport.
Sean Knorr pitched 4 1/3 innings, allowing six earned runs on six hits while striking out eight batters.
Gage Vota pitched three innings, giving up one earned run and three hits while striking out three and walking three.
Colton Blankstrom delivered 1 2/3 innings, allowing two earned runs on two hits with four strikeouts.
Gabe Helder pitched one inning, surrendering four earned runs on six hits, including two home runs.
Clay scored a career-high five runs and collected three hits, including a triple, while also driving in a run. Epple added a career-high four hits and contributed two RBIs, crossing the plate twice. Hultink recorded a career-high four RBIs on four hits, highlighted by a home run and a double. Johnson finished with a career-high four hits, two RBIs, and scored three times, also adding a double to his performance.
GAME 2
DU picked up their first win of the season (1-4) and handed the Greyhounds (3-6) their worst loss since last year's Super Regional Game 3 against Northwood. Davenport built a quick 5-0 lead after two innings as the home team on the box score.
The four-run, second-inning saw
Ivan Salinas drive home a pair of runs on a double for a 3-0 lead. Clay delivered a sacrifice fly to score Salinas for the second out. Hultink had a two-out single and Epple scored on a fielding error by Humphrey.
Warn answered a run by UIndy in the top of the third with his first home run of the season in the bottom half for a 6-1 advantage. The game was put out of reach with a seven-run, fourth inning. Warn,
Joey Barboza, and Clay each had a bases-loaded walk.
Parker Neel sandwiched in a three-RBI double and Epple was hit by a pitch to plate the 13th run.
Solen Munson hit a two-run homer in the top of the fifth for the Greyhounds. Humphrey closed the gap with a two-RBI double in the top of the sixth. A single run on a Munson RBI single in the top of the 7th made it 13-6. DU ended the scoring in the bottom of the 7th for the 10-run mercy rule in seven innings.
Travis Liford drove in three runs on a double with two outs for the final 16-6 score.
Bode went 4-for-4 for the Greyhounds with a run scored. Munson finished with three RBIs and was 2-for-2 off the bench as the designated hitter. Neel scored three times and drove in three runs for the Panthers. Warn finished with three runs scored and two walks. Clay was the only Panther without a hit in the starting lineup, but did drive in two runs.
Easton Remick got the start and lasted 3 1/3 innings while allowing just one earned run with three walks and three strikeouts.
Brayden Flanders was first out of the bullpen and went 1 2/3 innings, yielding two hits and two earned runs with a walk.
Jaden Alberson finished the final two innings and allowed four hits and two earned runs.
The two teams are scheduled for another doubleheader tomorrow (Feb. 21) beginning at 4 PM.
