OZARK – A two run homer by Devon Hensley in the top of the ninth gave UINDY an 8-7 victory over the Drury baseball Panthers in a single nine-inning contest to capture the series two games to one at US Baseball Park on Saturday.
Drury slipped to 13-13 and 6-5 in the Great Lakes Valley Conference while Indianapolis improved to 13-10 and 6-5 in the league.
The Panthers claimed a 4-0 lead in the bottom of the second with
Ethan Owens,
Clayton Engel and
Aaron Mann (2 RBIs) each producing RBIs hits for the Panthers offense. UINDY cut the Drury lead to 4-2 with runs in the third and fifth innings. Owens, who went 4-for-5 with two RBIs and two runs, gave the Panthers and insurance run with an RBI double down the left field line in the bottom of the fifth.
UINDY cut the DU lead to 5-3 with a balk call in the top of the seventh and had the bases loaded with two outs before
Alex Austin was called into relief action. UINDY tied it up with a pair of RBI walks to close out the top of the seventh. Drury wasted no time getting the lead back with an RBI double to left center by
Brandt Ollinger to plate Owens in the Panther seventh.
The back and forth battle continue as the Greyhounds evened the score (6-6) on an RBI sac fly in the eighth. A two run homer by Hensley in the top of the Greyhound ninth would give UINDY an 8-6 lead. A two out RBI single to right by
Austin Wood in the Panther ninth scored
Collin Fraley to cut the Greyhounds lead to 8-7.
Fraley and Owens both went 4-for-5 and Owens added two RBIs and two runs for the Panthers who finished with 16 hits to 10 for UNIDY.
Logan Pittman (0-2) received the loss for the Panthers.
Up next for the Drury baseball Panthers will be a single nine inning GLVC contest on Tuesday vs. Rockhurst at US Baseball Park. First pitch is set for 3 p.m.
