TAMPA, Fla. — Davenport baseball faced a tough doubleheader against No. 3 Tampa, suffering two decisive defeats on Saturday. In the first game, Davenport fell 17–3, while the second game ended in an 11–1 loss. Both ended after seven innings of play.

In game one, Davenport started strong, scoring three runs in the first inning, including a home run. Wyatt Epple singled to center field and crossed the plate on Justin Johnson's double down the left field line. Johnson later scored on Dylan Pawenski's two-run homer to left field, giving Davenport a 3–0 lead. However, Tampa responded in the second inning by scoring four runs, with Javi Soto doubling and scoring on a wild pitch, followed by a series of walks and a hit-by-pitch that brought in three more runs, putting the Spartans ahead 4–3.

Tampa continued to build its lead in the third inning with a sacrifice fly by Brayden Woodburn and a two-run homer by Gunnett Carlson, contributing to a four-run inning and bringing the score to 8–3. The fourth inning saw Tampa adding five more runs, highlighted by Jordan Evans' three-run homer, leading to a 13–3 advantage. After a quiet fifth inning, Tampa added four more runs in the sixth, ending the game with a 17–3 victory.

Max Ferrick delivered a strong performance from the mound for Davenport, striking out two batters in just 2/3 inning without allowing any hits or walks. Jeff Agar started the game and pitched 1 2/3 innings, striking out three but allowing four earned runs. Pawenski hit a home run and drove in two runs, collecting two hits in three at-bats. Johnson recorded an RBI with a double, while Epple scored a run and added a hit.

In the second game, Davenport managed just five hits and recorded their lone run in the second inning. The Panthers opened the scoring when Pawenski singled up the middle and advanced to second on a balk. Travis Liford then doubled to left field, driving in Pawenski for a 1–0 lead. However, Tampa responded in the third inning with a five-run surge, capitalizing on a fielding error that allowed three unearned runs and giving the Spartans a 5–1 lead.

The Spartans continued their offensive dominance, extending their lead in the fourth inning when Jordan Evans scored on Jake Books' double, making it 6–1. Tampa added another run in the fifth, and a four-run seventh inning, capped off by Evans' three-RBI double, solidified their 11–1 victory.

Colton Blankstrom pitched six innings for Davenport in the second game, allowing 15 hits and four earned runs while striking out three. Aidan Arbaugh struggled in relief, giving up four hits and four earned runs in just 2/3 inning. On the offensive side, Sam Clay contributed with a double and a walk, while Pawenski led the offense with two hits and scored one run.

Looking ahead, Davenport will take the field again at 11 a.m. on Sunday, March 15, facing the Spartans in Tampa, Florida.