OZARK, Mo.-
KK Daniel's hit to the left field corner in the bottom of the 10
th inning gave Drury a 9-8, extra-innings win over Trevecca Nazarene at US Baseball Park in Ozark on Friday.
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Daniel's game-winning hit salvaged a win for Drury in a game that saw the Panthers lose their grip on an 8-1 lead going into the ninth inning. Trevecca Nazarene took advantage of three walks and two hit-batsman by Drury relievers while picking up three hits as they rallied with seven runs in the ninth to tie the game, 8-8.
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The Trojans followed that by getting out of a bases-loaded, one-out jam in the bottom of the ninth as they turned a double-play to send the game to extra innings.
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In the bottom of the 10
th, Drury got a one-out double by pinch hitter
Nathan Schweppe. Clayton Engle drew a walk and
Nic Perkins was hit by a pitch to load the bases with two outs setting up Daniel's hit that ended the game.
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"We've got to be better when we're in non-stressful opportunities. We made it stressful by walking and hitting guys and not competing on the mound," said Drury head coach
Scott Nasby. "
Ryan Colombo did a great job again and got us a lead and
KK Daniel came through with a big knock. But when you've got an opportunity to finish the game, you have to compete."
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Colombo got stuck with a no-decision for Drury after going eight innings and allowing seven hits and just one run with one walk and six strikeouts. He exited the game with an 8-1 lead after eight innings.
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Alex Austin (1-1) got the win for the Panthers pitching 1.1 innings in relief. Christian Lohr (0-1) took the loss for Trevecca Nazarene.
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Daniel had four runs batted in on the day while going 2 for 5. He hit his first home run of the season with a three-run blast in the seventh inning.
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Shane Benes hit two homers for Drury in his second multi-home run game of the year. The shortstop from Town and Country, Missouri crushed a three-run shot over the wall in left field in the third inning and lined a solo shot to straight-away center field in the fifth. Benes ended the game going 3 for 5 with four RBI's and now has eight home runs for the season.
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Drury improved to 10-6 while dropping the Trojans to 4-11.
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The three-game series with Trevecca Nazarene concludes with a doubleheader tomorrow. The first of two nine-inning games starts at noon on Saturday at US Baseball Park.
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