UTICA, Mich. — Davenport (29-25) defeated No. 15 Wayne State University (37-14) with a commanding 12–5 victory on Saturday at UWM Field in an elimination game at the GLIAC Tournament. Davenport compiled 11 hits and two home runs, while securing five stolen bases to seal the win.
Davenport opened the game with a strong offensive performance in the first inning.
Cody Hultink singled to center field, followed by
Justin Johnson walking, setting up
Dylan Pawenski for a three-run homer to left field.
Travis Liford added a solo home run, giving Davenport a 4–0 lead after the first inning.
Wayne State responded in the second inning when Rhett Roeser reached on a throwing error and later scored on Tony Hatzigeorgiou's RBI single. The inning concluded with Davenport leading 4–1.
In the third inning, Davenport extended its lead. Johnson scored on a wild pitch, and Pawenski scored on Liford's sacrifice fly, but had to leave the game after the play at the plate. The Warriors answered with two runs, reducing Davenport's lead to 6–3 at the end of the third inning.
Davenport added two more runs in the fifth inning.
Aiden Warn scored on Liford's groundout, and
Wyatt Epple scored on a passed ball, pushing the lead to 8–3.
In the sixth inning, Davenport capitalized on a defensive error by WSU to score another run, leading 9–3.
Davenport continued to build its lead in the eighth inning. Epple drove in two runs with a triple to right center, making the score 11–3.
In the ninth inning,
Julian Contreras scored on Johnson's groundout, extending the lead. The Warriors managed two runs in their last at-bat, but Davenport secured the victory with a final score of 12–5.
Gabe Helder started for Davenport, pitching four innings, allowing five hits and three runs, with two of them earned. He struck out three batters while issuing two walks and hitting one batter.
Jaden Alberson relieved Helder and earned the win with a five-inning performance, surrendering five hits and two earned runs. Alberson recorded five strikeouts and walked two, improving his season record to 3-0.
Pawenski led Davenport with two hits, including a home run, and drove in three runs. Liford matched Pawenski's performance by also hitting a home run, driving in three runs, and scoring twice. Johnson contributed with three runs scored, two stolen bases, and one RBI despite not recording a hit. Epple added two hits, including a triple, while driving in two runs and scoring once.
The next challenge for Davenport is set for Sunday, May 10, when it faces Grand Valley State at 11 a.m. in Utica, Michigan in the championship. If Davenport can win, they will force another game immediately thereafter.
