An RBI single by Kari Hillenburg in the bottom of the seventh scored Kendyl Frerking to help the Drury softball Panthers earn a split vs. Missouri Southern taking the nightcap 10-9 after falling 11-1 in the opener at Thompson Field on Tuesday.

Drury is now 5-7 and Missouri Southern is now 9-10.

In the nightcap Southern scored four runs on four hits and an error in the top of the second for a 4-0 lead.  An RBI single in the third pushed it to a 5-0 lead and added two runs on four hits in the fourth to make it 7-0.

Drury scored four runs on five hits in the fourth inning with Kelsey Conway having a two RBI single to get the Panthers on the board and Hillenburg drove home Conway and Rachael Michaelis to cut the Lions lead to 7-4.

Back to back RBI doubles by Chantal Oelrich and Alyssa Sargent in the Panther fifth pulled the Panthers to within a run 7-6.  Abbey LeJong singled to score Oelrich and give the Panthers an 8-7 lead.  A wild pitch allowed LeJong to score and cap off a big Panther fifth for a 9-7 lead.

Missouri Southern tied it up with a pair of runs in the top of the sixth 9-9.  In the clutch Hillenburg would single to right center to score pinch runner Kendyl Frerking and give the Panthers a 10-9 victory in the bottom of the seventh. 

Hillenburg led the Panthers with four hits and two RBIs and Oelrich added two hits, a run and an RBI in the Panthers 11 hit effort.  Missouri Southern finished with 16 hits led by Angel Badalamenti who had four hits, three runs and an RBI.

Shelby Weissenbach (4-3) earned the win for Drury with Ahsley Lutz (4-5) receiving the loss for the Lions.

In the opener Lutz threw a no hitter to earn the win for Southern.  Missouri Southern jumped out to a 4-0 lead scoring four runs on three hits and an error which included a two run homer in the opening inning.  Hillenburg scored on an error in the bottom of the first to cut the lead to 4-1. 

Southern hit their second homer of the game in the second to make it a 5-1 Lions lead.  In the top of the fourth and RBI fly and a grand slam by Sarah Williams extended the lead to 10-1.  Southern added a run on an RBI groundout in the fifth and held DU for an 11-1 win after five innings. 

Jessica Kjeldgaard (0-4) received the loss for Drury with Southern getting 13 hits.


Drury will host Lincoln on Wednesday at Thompson Field with action starting at 2 p.m.