JOPLIN – The Drury Softball Panthers opened play at the Teri Mathis Zenner Memorial Tournament suffering a pair of losses 8-0 to Missouri Western in the opener and 2-0 in the nightcap vs. Northwest Missouri State here on Saturday.
Drury is now 2-5, Missouri Western improved to 9-4 and Northwest Missouri State is now 8-2.
In the opener the Griffons wasted little time scoring a run in the first, then following up with four in the second and three in the third for what would be an 8-0 win for the Missouri Western. Pitcher Janie Smith (6-2) who struck out seven Panthers in five innings earned the win with
Jessica Kjeldgaard (0-3) giving up nine Western hits in the loss.
Kari Hillenburg,
Kelley Conway and
Rachael Michaelis each had hits for Drury.
In the nightcap Northwest Missouri State used an RBI single in the third and an RBI double in the fourth to claim the 2-0 shutout win. Hillenburg,
Karlie Peck and
Chantal Oelrich had hits for the Panthers and the Bearcats finished with five hits.
Kendle Schieber (3-2) earned the win and
Shelby Weissenbach (1-3) received the loss.
Drury will continue action at the Teri Mathis Zenner Memorial Tournament today when they play Northeastern State at 10 a.m. and host Missouri Southern at 12 p.m. tomorrow.