OZARK, Mo.- Drury's bats came alive in the middle innings as they banged out 13 hits on their way to a 9-5 win over Davenport on Friday at U.S. Baseball Park in Ozark.
 
The Panthers trailed 2-0 in the fourth inning but took the lead with four consecutive singles, all with two outs, and they took advantage of a Davenport throwing error on a double-steal that put them in front 3-2.
 
Drury added two more runs in the fifth, then padded their lead on Riley Herron's two-RBI double with two outs in the sixth to go up 7-4. The Panthers tacked on two more runs in the eighth inning to take a 9-5 lead into the ninth.
 
Alex Austin (2-3) got the win as the Springfield-Glendale product went 5.1 innings allowing eight hits and four runs with one walk and four strikeouts. Nick Constantino pitched two innings of relief to earn his second save of the season.
 
"Alex worked around some jams and got some big outs," said Drury head coach Scott Nasby.
 
Brant Schaffitzel went 2 for 3 at the plate for Drury with two runs scored and two walks while Caleb Essick drove in two runs from the lead-off spot in the order.  
 
"We got four hits, plus a hit-batsman and a walk from our 7-8-9 hitters today and that set up the top of the order for RBI opportunities," said Nasby.
 
Oscar Heredia went 3 for 4 with two runs and two doubles to lead Davenport.
 
Drury improved to 6-10 and dropped Davenport to 7-6.
 
The two teams play game two and three of a four-game series on Saturday with a doubleheader that starts at noon at U.S. Baseball Park. 
 
 
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