Missouri Southern broke open a tight game with three runs each in the sixth and ninth innings to down Drury 14-7 in a non-conference contest Wednesday afternoon at Meador Park.
The Lions moved to 17-11 overall, while Drury fell to 14-12.
Missouri Southern scored two unearned runs off DU starter Tim Payne in the second for a 2-0 lead, but Drury answered with a pair in the bottom of the inning on an RBI single by Bret Gallion and a Lions' error.
The Panthers went up 3-2 in the third on Harrison Waters' sacrifice fly for their only lead of the game, as Southern took command with a five-run fourth to lead 7-3.
It was 8-7 Missouri Southern after five, as Drury scored three times in the fifth on a Waters RBI single, Tyler Wright RBI double and a run-scoring groundout from Kendall Findley, but the Lions put three on the board in the sixth and ninth against the Drury bullpen to pull away.
Carter Lance (4-0) picked up the win for MSSU with two shutout innings of relief work, while Blair Ellington (0-1), one of eight DU pitchers in the contest, took the loss.
Tyler Goss went 3-for-4, Waters finished 2-for-3 with two RBIs and Wright was 2-for-4 with two runs and an RBI to pace the Panthers, who matched Southern with 12 hits.
Tyler Tuthill went 2-for-4 and drove in four runs to pace the Lions.
Due to a less than promising weather forecast, Drury has moved its scheduled Great Lakes Valley Conference baseball games this weekend to double-headers on Sunday and Monday with visiting Rockhurst at Meador Park. Sunday’s games will begin at 1 p.m., while Monday’s double-header will start at noon.
The Panthers will hold Saturday’s scheduled inaugural Drury Baseball Trading Card Day festivities after Sunday’s game. All kids 12-and-under will be admitted free, as will an accompanying adult. Kids will also receive free hots and drinks throughout the double-header.
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