SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — The Davenport baseball team (4-9) dropped a regional game at Illinois-Springfield on Friday as the Prairie Stars used a six-run, seventh inning to propel them to a 13-9 win. DU led 7-5 heading into the home half of the seventh inning and
Braden LaRusso took over as the third pitcher of the game for DU. The first two batters reached without a hit and a single by Chris Suchoski loaded the bases.
Brandon Skorupski entered into the fire and could not extinguish the flames. The Prairie Stars got a four-pitch walk from Jesse Contreras and Tommy Atkinson singled to tie it up at 7-7. The game-changing swing came with two outs as Corey Boyette hit a grand slam to center for an 11-7 lead and ended the day for Skorupski.
Davenport initiated the scoring in the first inning with
Wyatt Epple's solo home run to left center for the first of his career. An error allowed
Cody Hultink to reach base, and
Justin Johnson's single advanced him to third.
Aiden Warn followed with an RBI single, bringing Hultink home. The Panthers led 2-0 after the first inning.
In the third inning, Warn extended the lead with a solo homer to left field for his second of the season, making it 3-1 for Davenport.
The sixth inning saw a resurgence from the Panthers as
Cam Johnson hit a two-run homer for his first career jack, scoring
Travis Liford. This was part of
Cam Johnson's impressive three-hit performance, which marked the first time he achieved three hits this season. Later in the inning, Epple doubled to left center to score
Sam Clay, who also recorded three hits, exceeding his season average of 1.17. Hultink followed with an RBI double. Davenport regained the lead 7-5.
In the ninth trailing 13-7, Johnson singled, and
Dylan Pawenski's double brought him home.
Justin Johnson's three-hit game surpassed his season average of 1.83 hits per game, adding to the offensive efforts.
Cam Johnson added another RBI with a single to center field. The late efforts brought Davenport closer, but the game concluded with a final score of 13-9 in favor of UIS.
Sean Knorr pitched 3 2/3 innings, allowing four earned runs on two hits, while striking out six and walking four.
Gage Vota followed with 2 1/3 innings, surrendering one earned run on one hit, including a home run, and recording two strikeouts.
Ian Dixon closed with 1 1/3 innings, allowing two earned runs on two hits and striking out three.
Epple contributed significantly to the scoring by hitting a home run and a double, driving in two runs, and crossing the plate twice. Clay reached base three times with three hits and scored once, while stealing a base.
Cam Johnson showcased power with a career-high three RBI. Warn added to the offensive production with a two-hit game and knocked in two runs.
In their next game, Davenport will stay to Springfield, Ill., to face UIS (10-4) at 1 p.m. ET Saturday, March 7 in a doubleheader.
