CALEDONIA, Mich. — Davenport baseball fell to Wayne State by a final score of 7–4 on Friday at the Farmers Insurance Complex to put both teams at 4-1 in conference play. Davenport took a brief lead in the seventh inning following a two-run rally, but the Warriors responded with four runs in the eighth to secure their victory.
Sean Knorr and Will Lowery were fantastic on the mound for each team. Lowery allowed two hits in 5 1/3 innings for the Warriors, while Knorr did not allow a hit until the leadoff hitter in the sixth inning for the Panthers.
Davenport faced off against the No. 7 Warriors in a game marked by momentum shifts and decisive plays. The visitors took an early lead in the second inning when Drew Hill scored on a wild pitch, making it 1–0 WSU.
In the fifth inning, Davenport responded against Lowery.
Cam Johnson reached third on an error and later scored on
Wyatt Epple's RBI groundout, tying the game at 1–1 through five innings.
Davenport gained momentum in the sixth inning. Aidan Warn doubled, advancing
Dylan Pawenski to third.
Aidan Arbaugh then hit a two-RBI double to right center, scoring both runners and giving Davenport a 3–1 lead after six innings.
The seventh inning saw Davenport extend its lead with Epple scoring on a fielding error, making it 4–1. The Warriors finished with a season-high five errors.
The Warriors regained control in the eighth inning. Bennett Hitzelberger and Owen Tuccinardi both reached base, setting up Hill for a two-RBI triple which shifted momentum to WSU. Additional runs followed, allowing the Warriors to pull ahead 5–4 through eight innings. Rhett Roeser had a RBI single and Nick Sandiha, Jr. recorded a sacrifice fly.
In the ninth inning, the Warriors added two more runs with Hill doubling in a run and Sandiha, Jr. singling in another, sealing the 7–4 victory over Davenport. Hill finished with three runs scored and three RBIs for Wayne State. Rocco Cardinale earned his fourth save of the season by going the final two innings for Wayne State.
Knorr delivered a strong performance, pitching five no-hit innings while allowing just one earned run on one hit and striking out four. He maintained control with 90 pitches, 53 of which were strikes, resulting in a WHIP of 0.80.
Brandon Skorupski took over for two innings, striking out three but conceding three earned runs on four hits, including a double and a triple.
Joe Chrapliwy faced difficulties in his brief 2/3 inning, allowing one earned run and issuing a walk, which saddled him with the loss (1-1).
Jimmy Amptmann gave up two earned runs on a hit and a walk, while
Brayden Flanders closed with an inning allowing no runs and striking out one.
Epple led the offensive charge with two hits, one run, and one RBI in the game. Arbaugh made a significant impact by driving in two runs with a double. Warn contributed with a double and a run scored, while also drawing a walk.
In their next game, Davenport will take the field at 3 p.m. tomorrow against the Warriors at the Farmers Insurance Athletic Complex. DU had their four-game win streak against Wayne State snapped in today's loss.
