HILLSDALE, Mich. — Davenport fell to Hillsdale College in a high-scoring, non-conference contest, 13-9, on Wednesday at TFO Partners Field in chilly conditions. Davenport jumped to an early lead with four runs in the first two innings, but the Chargers responded with a five-run second. Despite a late three-run surge in the seventh inning, Davenport could not overcome the Chargers' two separate five-run innings in the second and fifth.
Davenport took an early lead in the first inning.
Sam Clay doubled to left field, followed by
Justin Johnson's single, which moved Clay to third.
Aiden Warn's single to center field brought home both Clay and Johnson, giving Davenport a 2-0 lead after the first inning.
In the second inning,
Cam Johnson walked, advanced to second on a balk, stole third, and scored on a sacrifice by
Julian Contreras. Clay, who reached on a throwing error, advanced to second on a balk and then to third on another error, eventually scoring on a fielding error. This extended the lead to 4-0. However, the Chargers responded with five runs in the bottom half, taking a 5-4 lead. Will Lehman had a RBI double to plate Hillsdale's first run. Ryan Wiehe drove in another run on an infield single. Gaard Swenson delivered a RBI single to right to tie the game and Rocco Tenuta gave the Chargers a 5-4 lead on a sacrifice fly.
Davenport tied the game in the fourth inning, with Clay scoring on a groundout by Johnson after a walk and a single. The Chargers regained the lead with a sacrifice fly by Tenura, making it 6-5 through four innings.
The Chargers widened the gap in the fifth inning by scoring five runs to take an 11-5 lead. Swenson had a sacrifice fly and Tenuta drove in his third run of the game with a single up the middle.
In the seventh inning, Davenport cut into the deficit with three runs. Johnson reached on an error and was followed by hits from
Dylan Pawenski and Warn, who drove in Johnson. Warn would finish with a season-high four RBIs.
Travis Liford hit a double that brought in Pawenski and Warn, making the score 11-8.
The eighth inning saw Davenport add another run with Clay scoring on Warn's sacrifice fly. The Panthers loaded the bases, but
Ben Korson struck out looking to strand three runners down 11-9. The Chargers scored two more, resulting in a 13-9 score. Lehman singled on a bunt and a throwing error scored Carson Tucker. Tyler Sowers followed with a RBI single to left to score Jake Figman.
Davenport's comeback efforts in the ninth inning were thwarted as it failed to score further.
Carson Lindau led off with a double to left followed by
Aidan Arbaugh drawing a walk. Clay grounded into a double play to move Lindau to third and
Wyatt Epple flew out to center field to end the game.
Ty Kraut threw 32 pitches in a start and lasted just one inning while giving up five earned runs.
Brayden Flanders (0-1) relieved Kraut and delivered 2 1/3 innings, giving up one earned run on one hit and striking out one.
Connor Apligian faced four batters over 2/3 of an inning, allowing one earned run with two walks.
Gage Vota recorded one out while allowing one hit, two walks, and three runs.
Lucas Coll pitched two innings, allowing three hits and two runs, with two strikeouts.
Jimmy Amptmann closed the pitching for Davenport, throwing one inning with one hit and no runs allowed.
Clay led the team with four runs scored and added two stolen bases. Warn drove in four runs while collecting two hits, including a sacrifice fly. Johnson contributed with two runs and added an RBI.
Travis Liford recorded two hits, including a double, and drove in two runs.
The next action for Davenport comes at 3 p.m. tomorrow when it travels to face Saginaw Valley State in University Center, Mich.
