CALEDONIA, Mich. — Davenport baseball took game two of the weekend series securing a 9-4 victory over No. 7 Wayne State on Saturday at the Farmers Insurance Athletic Complex. It was the second win this season over a top-10 team in Division II. Davenport took control with a decisive four-run seventh inning.
Justin Johnson led the offensive charge with a home run and two doubles, while the team collectively managed ten hits. The Warriors were able to score in the first and fifth innings, but Davenport's pitching staff, led by
Gabe Helder, limited the Warriors to no runs over the final four innings.
The Warriors took an early lead in the first inning with Bennett Hitzelberger's solo home run to right center. Davenport responded as Johnson scored on a single by
Dylan Pawenski, leveling the score at 1-1.
The Warriors regained the lead in the second inning when Ty Garza homered to center field. This put them ahead 2-1.
In the third inning, Davenport tied the game again.
Wyatt Epple singled and was driven home by Pawenski's groundout, making it 2-2.
WSU scored twice in the fifth inning. Hitzelberger doubled and scored on a single by Drew Hill. Owen Tuccinardi also crossed the plate on a sacrifice fly by Rhett Roeser. Davenport closed the gap to 4-3 after Epple scored on a passed ball.
The seventh inning saw Davenport take control.
Sam Clay and Epple both reached base, setting the stage for Pawenski's double on a two-strike count, which brought in two runs. Later,
Ben Korson doubled, bringing in two more runs and putting Davenport ahead 7-4.
Davenport extended its lead in the eighth inning. Johnson hit a two-run homer to left center, securing a 9-4 final score.
Colton Blankstrom started for Davenport, pitching five innings while allowing nine hits, four earned runs, and two home runs. He struck out four batters and walked one, using 91 pitches to navigate 24 batters. Reliever
Gabe Helder made a strong appearance, pitching a season-high four innings and surrendering only two hits with no runs allowed to earn the win (2-2). Helder struck out four, walked one, and hit one batter.
Epple led the scoring with four runs and added two hits in his performance. Johnson finished with three hits, including two doubles and a home run, contributing two RBIs and scoring twice. Pawenski drove in four runs with two hits, one of which was a double. Korson recorded two RBIs with a double among his two hits.
Up next for Davenport is a matchup against Wayne State at noon Sunday, March 29, for a doubleheader.
