AUSTIN, Tex.- Drury starter Kaleb Schmidt tied a team record with 11 strikeouts, but the Panthers fell short in a 5-1 loss at St. Edward's on Friday as they opened a four-game series against the Hilltoppers in Austin, Texas.
 
Drury dropped to 1-2 with the loss while St. Edward's improved to 5-1.
 
Schmidt, a junior out of Springfield-Kickapoo that transferred to Drury from Central Arkansas, fanned 11 batters as he pitched a complete game going eight innings allowing six hits, five runs,  four earned runs, and just two walks. It marks the sixth time a Drury pitcher has struck out 11 in a single game. Austin Simms was the last Panther to do it when he reached that total last year against Missouri-St. Louis on March 24.
 
Drury grabbed an early lead when the second batter of the game, Ryan Kayhill, belted a solo home run to left field. The Panthers were shut out and held to just two hits the rest of the way, however.
 
Schmidt (0-2) kept St. Edward's off of the board until the fourth inning when the Hilltoppers scored a run to tie the game. St. Edward's then took the lead in the sixth on a three-run homer by Jacob Vasquez that put them in front 4-1, and the Hilltoppers tacked on another run in eighth taking advantage of a Drury error.

"Schmidt was a legitimate number one starter today and we needed to get him a few more runs of support," said Drury head coach Scott Nasby. "(St. Edward's) hit three balls hard and unfortunately, one swing was a three-run homer and a difference-maker." 
 
Vasquez ended the game going 3 for 3 with a home run, stolen base, and three runs scored. Blake Holub (1-0) got the win for St. Edward's going seven innings and allowing three hits and one run with two walks and nine strikeouts. Koehler Vandament pitched the eighth and ninth innings to pick up his second save.  

"We faced a regional regular with a legitimate prospect on the mound who was throwing in the low to mid-90's and some physical batters," added Nasby. "That competition only makes us better and is why we like to schedule tough opponents early in the year."  

The two teams resume their series tomorrow with a doubleheader starting at noon. Game four of the series is on Sunday.
 
 
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