SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Davenport baseball (6-9) had a successful doubleheader against Illinois Springfield (10-6) on Saturday, clinching victories in both games. They had a 10-8 triumph in game one, followed by a 18-8 mercy-rule, eight-inning win in game two.
In the first game, Davenport emerged victorious with a 10-8 win, highlighted by a three-run seventh inning that secured the victory after both teams exchanged leads throughout the game. The Prairie Stars took an early lead with Kody Morton's two-run homer, making it 2-0 at the end of the first inning.
Davenport responded in the third with
Carson Lindau hitting his first career home run, and after a crucial error,
Wyatt Epple set up
Cody Hultink for an RBI double.
Justin Johnson then hit a two-run homer, putting Davenport ahead 4-2, but the Prairie Stars tied the game in the bottom of the third with two unearned runs. Davenport regained the lead with an RBI single by Hultink, only for Illinois Springfield to respond with a four-run fourth inning, bringing the score to 8-5.
The Panthers narrowed the gap in the sixth inning as
Dylan Pawenski was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded and
Travis Liford had an infield RBI single. In the seventh, Johnson's second home run of the game, a three-run shot, put Davenport ahead 10-8. The Prairie Stars would get a two-out rally started as Kaden Griffitts singled to right, Johnny Wendling walked, and Brian Daker walked to load the bases.
Jaden Alberson showed his mental toughness by getting Noah Caceres to fly out to center to end the game.
Jeff Agar started the game, pitching 3 1/3 innings, while
Joe Chrapliwy and
Jaden Alberson provided relief. Alberson went the final 2 1/3 innings and allowed just one hit with those walks in the seventh. Johnson had an outstanding performance, recording 3-for-4 at the dish, including two home runs, and driving in three runs. Hultink added two hits and two RBIs, while Clay went 2-for-5 with two runs scored.
In the second game, Davenport capitalized on five home runs and five doubles, amassing 17 RBIs. The team scored in seven of the eight innings, including a five-run eighth inning. UIS managed three home runs, but struggled with two errors and left 11 runners on base. Johnson got things started with a two-run homer in the first inning, scoring Hultink, followed by Pawenski's two-run shot, bringing in
Aiden Warn, to end the first inning with a 4-0 lead for Davenport.
The Panthers maintained their momentum into the second inning when Epple singled to bring home
Joey Barboza, extending the lead to 5-1. In the third inning, Liford doubled to center field for two more runs, and
Cam Johnson's sacrifice fly brought in another run, increasing the lead to 7-1. Davenport continued to add to their score with solo homers from Pawenski and Liford in the fifth inning, followed by an RBI double from Clay, pushing the score to 10-3.
Johnson's second homer in the sixth inning made it 11-3, and in the seventh, Hultink's single scored two more runs to bring the score to 13-3. The eighth inning saw Davenport's offense surge further, with an RBI double from Liford and a two-RBI single from Epple, concluding that inning with Davenport ahead 18-8. Drew Ezard hit a three-run homer in the bottom of the eighth to conclude the scoring.
Colton Blankstrom pitched five innings for Davenport, allowing three earned runs on seven hits, striking out four to get the win (1-0).
A.J. Park relieved for three innings, and is awarded a save. Epple had a standout performance with three hits, driving in three runs, while Johnson powered the offense with two home runs, three RBIs, and two runs scored. Pawenski went 3-for-5 and Liford went 3-for-5.
Davenport will continue their season with a game against Illinois Springfield, set for 1 p.m. ET on Sunday, March 8.
