CALEDONIA, Mich. — Davenport baseball got over the .500 mark (25-24) on an impressive day at the Farmers Insurance Athletic Complex, sweeping Purdue University Northwest (15-25) with wins of 11-0 and 9-5 in a doubleheader on Saturday during Senior Day. The win streak over the Pride has now stretched to 10.
In the first game, Davenport dominated with a commanding 11-0 victory marked by a seven-run fifth inning. The home team set the tone early when
Sam Clay scored on an RBI single by
Aiden Warn, taking a 1-0 lead. In the fourth inning,
Ben Korson scored on a sacrifice fly by
Carson Lindau, extending the lead to 2-0.
The fifth inning saw Davenport's offense explode, beginning with
Justin Johnson's single that led to a double by
Dylan Pawenski. Warn's double brought in Pawenski, and
Garrett Swan, running for Warn, scored on a steal after a throwing error. Singles from
Travis Liford and
Wyatt Epple added to the rally, with Liford scoring on
Julian Contreras's hit. Lindau capped the inning with a triple that cleared the bases, bringing the score to 9-0. Davenport added two more runs in the sixth, with
Vincent Hardy walking and scoring on a double by Epple, making it 11-0.
Easton Remick delivered a standout performance on the mound, pitching a complete game shutout for the first time this season with only three hits allowed and three strikeouts. He threw 85 pitches, 48 for strikes, improving his record to 4-4 for the season. Lindau drove in three runs, while Pawenski contributed two doubles and an RBI. Contreras had three hits and stole two bases, driving in a run as well.
In the second game, Davenport secured a 9-5 victory, highlighted by a five-run fifth inning.
Cody Hultink opened the scoring with a leadoff home run to right center, but Purdue Northwest responded with an RBI double by Denham Kozy, tying the game at 1-1. Davenport regained the lead in the second inning when Epple scored on a sacrifice bunt by Contreras, making it 2-1.
The fifth inning was filled with action, as Purdue Northwest temporarily took the lead with three runs, including a two-RBI triple by Drew Kosteba. However, Davenport responded with Hultink and
Justin Johnson reaching base, followed by a two-run single from Pawenski and a two-RBI double from Korson. A sacrifice fly by Epple capped the inning, giving Davenport a 7-4 lead. Warn extended the lead with a solo home run in the seventh, his eighth of the season, bringing the score to 8-4, and Hultink's sacrifice fly in the eighth pushed it to 9-4. Purdue Northwest managed one more run in the ninth, but Davenport secured the victory at 9-5.
Colton Blankstrom pitched a solid seven innings, striking out five and allowing three earned runs, improving his record to 3-4.
Jeff Agar got two quick outs in the eighth, but then loaded the bases.
Brayden Flanders closed out the game by getting a grounder to end the eighth and wrapped it up in the ninth. Hultink excelled with a home run, driving in two runs and scoring twice, while Warn contributed a home run, two walks, and two runs scored. Korson added two hits and two RBIs, and Pawenski also drove in two runs with a single.
Looking ahead, Davenport will host Purdue Northwest again at noon on Sunday, May 3 in Caledonia, Michigan for the regular-season finale.
