OZARK, Mo.- The Drury Panthers completed a four-game series sweep of McKendree and extended their winning streak to five games with a 5-2 win over the Bearcats on Sunday at US Baseball Park in Ozark.
 
Drury improved to 6-2 while dropping McKendree to 1-6.
 
Panthers starter Austin Simms (2-0) got the win working eight innings allowing just five hits, two runs and one earned run with no walks and eight strikeouts. Alex Stilwell pitched the ninth inning to pick up his second save.
 
"Austin settled down and pitched really well, especially in the late innings," said Drury head coach Scott Nasby. "He worked through quick innings in the sixth, seventh and eighth and any time your starter can give you eight innings, you should be in a good position to win."
 
Shane Benes went 2 for 3 at the plate with two runs batted in and the shortstop hit his fourth home run of the season with a solo shot in the third inning.
 
After McKendree tied the game in the top of the third, it was Benes' homer that gave Drury back the lead, 2-1. The Bearcats evened the game again in the fifth, 2-2, but the Panthers responded with a RBI single by Caleb Essick that put Drury ahead for good.
 
"When we give up a run we always want to answer back," added Nasby. "That's something that we did a fairly good job of for the entire weekend. We did a good job of playing with a lead in all four games."
 
The Panthers play their first road games of the year next weekend when they travel to Arkansas-Fort Smith for a three-game series. The series starts on Friday with a 4 p.m. game in Fort Smith, Arkansas.
 

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