The Drury softball Panthers earned a non-conference split winning the opener vs. Lincoln 5-2 before falling 3-1 in the nightcap at Thompson Field on Wednesday.

Drury is now 6-8 and Lincoln is now 1-12.

In the opener Drury scored a run on three hits in the second with Abbey LeJong hitting in Alyssa Sargent. Kaelie Smith singled by plate Kari Hillenburg and Karlie Peck to extend the Panther lead to 3-0 in the third. 

Grace Hargadon made it 5-0 with a two RBI single to score Hillenburg and Peck in the bottom of the fifth.  Lincoln scored their two runs on a two run homer in the seventh by Macie Kinsey.

Hargadon, LeJong and Smith had two hits each to pace the Panthers who finished with eight. Lincoln managed six hits in the contest.

Shelby Weissenbach (5-3) earned the win for Drury and struckout four.  Madison Ragar (0-4) received the loss for the Blue Tigers. 

In the nightcap Tori Nienhueser got Lincoln on the board in the first with a solo shot to right and the Blue Tigers added an RBI single for a 2-0 lead after one.  Lincoln added a run on an RBI single in the second.

A seventh inning RBI double by Kelley Conway scored Sargent to cut the Blue Tiger lead to 3-1.

Smith had two hits to lead DU who recorded four hits and Lincoln finished with eight hits. 

Macie Kinsey (1-3) got the win for Lincoln and Weissenbach (5-4) received the loss for Drury.


Drury will host Southwest Baptist on Wednesday, March 9 at 4 p.m. at Thompson Field.