DAVENPORT, Fla. — The Davenport baseball team fell to Northern State University in a high-scoring contest, 16–15, on Thursday at NE Regional Park. Davenport recorded 19 hits which was tied for the second-most this season, but could not clutch pitching in the final two innings. The Wolves' decisive four-run eighth inning secured their victory. Both teams left 13 runners on base in the see-saw matchup. It was the first-ever meeting between the two schools.
Davenport began the game with a promising start when
Sam Clay reached third base after a single and a wild pitch.
Justin Johnson brought Clay home with a double to right center, giving Davenport a 1–0 lead after the first inning.
In the second inning, Davenport extended its lead with
Michael Gregus's RBI double, followed by
Wyatt Epple's RBI single to center field, resulting in a 3–0 advantage. Gregus, who recorded 2 RBIs for the first time this season, helped establish the early lead. The Wolves responded with two runs, capitalizing on a wild pitch and an RBI single, leveling the score at 3–3 after two innings.
Davenport reclaimed the lead in the fourth inning, highlighted by
Dylan Pawenski's three-RBI double, bringing home
Aiden Warn, Johnson, and Epple. Despite the Wolves' five-run response, including a two-RBI ground-rule double, the game was tied again at 7–7.
Epple's RBI single in the fifth inning briefly put Davenport ahead, but the Wolves countered with three runs, moving ahead 10–8.
In the sixth inning, Davenport surged back into the lead with a five-run inning.
Aidan Arbaugh's two-RBI double and a series of wild pitches and walks helped them regain control, leading 13–10.
The seventh inning saw both teams adding to their tallies. Gregus's RBI single, combined with an error, allowed the Panthers to extend its lead to 15–10. The Wolves closed the gap with a two-run homer in the seventh by Collin Lott, making it 15–12.
NSU overtook Davenport in the eighth inning, scoring four runs through a combination of hits and a passed ball, leading 16–15. Dalton Kesti had a two-RBI single to get the Wolves within a run. Casey Vining tied the game with a RBI single to right center as Kesti scored. Drew Benson scored the winning run on a passed ball.
Davenport was unable to score in the ninth inning, resulting in a 16–15 defeat against the Wolves.
DU used a bevy of pitchers as eight different guys took the mound.
Braden LaRusso faced eight batters in the start and walked three.
Brayden Flanders pitched a scoreless inning in relief of LaRusso.
Gage Vota (1-3) absorbed the loss as the fourth pitcher. He went 1 2/3 innings and struck out four while giving up three earned runs. Davenport pitchers walked 14 and struck out 12.
Epple recorded four hits and drove in three runs, surpassing his season averages of 1.59 hits and 0.94 RBIs per game. Pawenski added three hits and matched Epple with three RBIs, including two doubles. Gregus contributed three runs and three hits, along with two RBIs and a double.
Carson Lindau was active on the bases, scoring twice and collecting three hits while also stealing two bases.
In their next game, Davenport will travel to face No. 3 Tampa at 6 p.m. on Friday, March 13 in Tampa, Florida.
