ALLENDALE, Mich. — The softball squad faced a challenging doubleheader against Grand Valley State on Saturday, falling 4–3 in the first game in eight innings and 5–4 in the second at the GVSU Softball Field. In the first contest, Davenport managed eight hits, including two doubles and a triple, but left 11 runners on base, while Grand Valley State secured the win with a decisive run in the eighth inning.
The opener began with both teams scoring in the first inning.
Chloe Bruman reached first on an error and later scored on a walk by
Lexie McCarty, giving Davenport an early lead. However, the Lakers quickly responded with a run, making it 1–1 after the first inning after a Kylee Hoebeke RBI single. DU pulled ahead in the third inning when
Alaina Schwanke doubled, and pinch runner
Randi Robakowski scored alongside
Cali D'Amour on a triple by
Ashley Sturgill, putting the Panthers ahead 3–1. GVSU evened the score in the fifth with a two-RBI double from Grace Usher, leaving the game tied at 3–3 after five innings. The contest remained tied through the seventh, pushing it into extra innings. In the bottom of the eighth, GVSU scored the winning run on an RBI single by Elizabeth Wesoloski, concluding the game with a 4–3 victory for the Lakers.
Hannah Tahaney pitched four innings, allowing three earned runs on four hits while striking out one. She faced 20 batters and threw 66 pitches, 38 of which were strikes.
Kayla Widner entered in relief, pitching 3 1/3 innings and conceding one earned run on six hits. Despite issuing four walks, Widner recorded two strikeouts over her 19 batters faced. Sturgill led the team by driving in two runs with her triple. Bruman contributed with two hits, one stolen base, and a run. Schwanke reached base twice, recording a double and drawing a walk, while
Chloe Parker collected two hits.
In the second game, Davenport again recorded eight hits, including a double, but was unable to hold the lead as Grand Valley State clinched the win with a run in the bottom of the seventh inning. Davenport started strong in the first inning, with Bruman scoring on a passed ball following a single, and
Kailyne Luna also advancing home on another passed ball, tying the game at 2-2 by the end of the first inning.
Davenport regained momentum in the fourth inning when
Savanna Clark singled, later scoring alongside Bruman, who returned as a pinch runner, on a double by
Lyla Reynolds, putting the Panthers ahead 4-2. However, by the fifth inning, the Lakers equalized at 4-4 with a two-run double from Liv Regenfuss. The game remained tied through the sixth inning, leading to a tense seventh inning. The Lakers clinched their victory with a single by Jenna Ballard that drove in the winning run, resulting in a final score of 5-4.
Schwanke pitched 6 1/3 innings for Davenport, allowing five earned runs on 13 hits while striking out one and walking two. Schwanke threw 98 pitches, 65 of which were strikes, and recorded 10 flyouts and seven groundouts, facing 35 batters. Bruman scored two runs and collected two hits while stealing a base. Luna also contributed with two hits and one run scored, adding a stolen base. Reynolds made an impact by driving in two runs with her double.
The Panthers will travel to Purdue Northwest on Sunday for a doubleheader against the Pride starting at 2 PM.
