SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – The Panthers host Rockhurst in a doubleheader at U.S. Baseball Park in Ozark on Sunday at noon in Drury's annual Pack the Park event presented by CY-Sports and Big Whiskey's. Sunday's doubleheader is the first two games in a four-game series that continues on Monday with a pair of games that start at 1 p.m.
During game one on Sunday, fans will have the chance to win prizes from Drury sponsors and there will be raffles throughout the game for sets of Cardinals tickets including a pack of eight that will be given away during the seventh inning stretch. Sunday's Pack the Park ticket also serves as a coupon for a half-price entrée at Big Whiskey's. A Fanthers bus for Drury students will be available and will depart for the Drury campus at 11 a.m. on Sunday. Drury students can also take part in a pregame tailgate event at the stadium that includes a hot dog, chips and soft drink for $5.
The Panthers enter the series 24-13, 10-6 in the Great Lakes Valley Conference and are in second place in the West Division. Drury has lost four of their last five having dropped a non-conference game at Rogers State, 12-4, on Tuesday and three of four games at Quincy last weekend.
Ryan Colombo continues to lead the team both at the plate and on the mound. The senior from Topeka, Kansas is hitting .423 with two home runs and 24 runs batted in. Colombo is the probable starting pitcher for game one on Sunday and brings a 7-1 record with a 2.57 ERA into the game.
Nic Perkins hitting .396 with five homers and 33 RBI's while
Shane Benes has 12 home runs and a team-leading 43 RBI's in 32 games.
Rockhurst is 18-19 and 6-10 in the GLVC. Henry Weiler leads the Hawks batting .348 with one home run and 28 RBI's. Michael Lydon-Lorson will be expected to start on the mound for Rockhurst and is 5-2 in nine starts with a 2.86 ERA. He has struck out 51 batters against only five walks.
Both games of Sunday's doubleheader will be broadcast live on the
Great Lakes Valley Sports Network.
The 2017 Drury baseball season is sponsored by Aaron Sachs and Associates.
Tickets are $5 with children ages 12 and under admitted free.
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