SPRINGFIELD, Mo.– The Drury Panthers are riding a nine-game winning streak going into a four-game series against Missouri S&T this weekend. Games one and two are Saturday in a doubleheader starting at noon at U.S. Baseball Park in Ozark, and the series concludes on Monday with two games in Rolla. The final two games of the series were originally scheduled for Sunday afternoon but pushed back to Monday with the forecast of inclement weather.
The Panthers are 19-15, 10-2 in the Great Lakes Valley Conference, and in first place in the West Division with a two-game lead over Maryville.
Missouri S&T is 15-15 and 6-6 in the conference. The Miners are tied for third place in the West and come in with a three-game winning streak that was capped by a 5-4 win on Tuesday over 12th-ranked Central Missouri.
Austin Simms is Drury's probable starting pitcher for game one of the series. He is coming off of a no-decision against Rockhurst last Sunday after going 6.2 innings and allowing four hits, three runs and three walks with seven strikeouts. He is 2-0 with a 1.90 ERA in his last three starts and has struck out 25 batters in his previous 23.2 innings.
Tom Tewes is expected to start game two on Saturday and is coming off of a win over Rockhurst on Sunday. The freshman from Lincoln, Nebraska went six innings and surrendered four hits, one run and four walks with a season-high seven strikeouts.
Freshman
Brant Schaffitzel leads Drury in hitting and is ranked sixth in the GLVC with a .400 average. The Springfield-Hillcrest product enters Saturday's doubleheader with a six-game hitting streak and is 12 for his last 24 at the plate over a nine-game span.
Ryan Kayhill has a 14-game hitting streak going into Saturday. The junior from Lee's Summit went 6 for 14 with 5 RBI's in the four games against Rockhurst.
Missouri S&T ranks third in the conference in hitting with a .305 team batting average. Connor Forsythe leads the Miners and is second in the GLVC with a .421 average while Tim Lira is hitting .414 and Cameron Burk is batting .400.
The 2018 Drury baseball season is sponsored by Aaron Sachs and Associates.
Tickets to Drury games at US Baseball Park are $5 with children ages 12 and under admitted free and can be purchased at the stadium gates.
DRURY QUICK FACTS
Live coverage-
GLVCSN
Live Stats
DU Probable Starters
Sat.- RHP
Austin Simms (5-2, 2.68 ERA)
RHP
Tom Tewes (1-1, 3.45 ERA)
Mon.- RHP
Avery Jennings (3-3, 6.03 ERA
LHP
Alex Austin (3-4, 7.58 ERA)
Head Coach
Scott Nasby (6
th year, 188-123-1)
Drury Summary
Record: 19-15 (10-2)
Streak: Won 9
All-time series vs Missouri S&T: 28-17
Last year: 3-1
Record in last four games: 4-0
Record at home: 13-9
Record on the road: 6-6
Vs RH starters: 13-7
Vs LH starters: 6-8
In 1-run games: 5-3
Extra Innings: 2-0
Shutouts: 2-0
Leading after 6 inn: 17-2
Trailing after 6 inn: 1-13
Tied after 6 inn: 1-0
Leading after 8 inn: 12-0
Trailing after 8 inn: 0-11
Tied after 8 inn: 1-1
Best record: 19-15 (10-2)
Worst record: 0-6 (2-2)
Longest win streak: 9 (current)
Longest losing streak: 6
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