QUINCY, Ill. — Davenport baseball (3-6) experienced a polar opposite doubleheader against Quincy University (9-5) on Friday, with a thrilling 19-9 victory in the first game followed by a disappointing 11-1 loss in the second.
Davenport showcased an explosive offense in Game 1, racking up 18 hits and hitting three home runs. The Panthers scored in seven different innings, highlighted by a five-run ninth inning. After a quiet first inning, Davenport took charge in the second with
Justin Johnson's single followed by
Aiden Warn and
Dylan Pawenski, each contributing singles to score three runs, making it 3-0.
In the third inning, Pawenski hit a two-run homer, bringing Warn home for a 5-0 lead. Quincy managed to score one run in the fourth, but Davenport countered with another run of its own, keeping the score at 6-1. The fifth inning saw further scoring from Davenport, with contributions from Johnson and a sacrifice fly from
Travis Liford, extending the lead to 9-2.
Quincy mounted a comeback in the sixth with a seven-run inning, highlighted by a three-run homer from Joe Huffman, narrowing the score to 11-9. However, Davenport regained momentum in the eighth with Pawenski's second home run, a three-run shot that widened the gap to 14-9, and closed the game with a three-run homer from Johnson and an RBI double from Liford, securing a final score of 19-9.
On the mound for Davenport,
Sean Knorr pitched 3 1/3 innings with four hits and one earned run, while
Gage Vota faced challenges in relief, allowing four earned runs over two innings.
Jimmy Amptmann was the most effective in relief, striking out four batters over three innings.
Johnson led with four runs scored and three hits, including a home run and four RBI's. Pawenski was a standout with two home runs, four hits, and a career-high seven RBI's. The seven RBI's is also tied for second in a single game in DU history. Warn contributed three hits and crossed the plate three times.
In Game 2, however, Davenport struggled offensively, managing only four hits and scoring its lone run in the fourth inning. Quincy jumped to an early lead with five runs in the first inning, including a two-RBI double from Byron Blaise and a two-run homer from David Broughton, establishing a commanding 5-0 lead.
Davenport's only run came in the fourth when
Cody Hultink led off with a single and advanced to third on two outs, with Pawenski driving him in for his eighth RBI of the day. Unfortunately, Quincy extended its lead in the sixth with four more runs, including a solo home run from Carson Moreno and a two-run double from Payton Mansfield, culminating in an 11-1 final.
Easton Remick started on the mound for Davenport, allowing six earned runs over two innings, while
Jaden Alberson delivered a solid performance in relief, pitching three innings and allowing just one hit.
Colin Ignasiak closed the game, conceding four earned runs.
Hultink led the Panthers in Game 2 with two hits and one run scored. Pawenski contributed with a hit resulting in a run, while Alberson's strong relief performance featured three strikeouts.
Looking ahead, Davenport will take the field again in Quincy, Illinois, on Saturday, Feb. 28, at 1 p.m. for another challenging doubleheader against the Hawks.
