SPRINGFIELD, Mo.– Drury's 2020 season opener will move to US Baseball Park in Ozark, Missouri, this weekend. The Panthers were originally scheduled to open the year with a three-game series at East Central on Saturday and Sunday, but the weather forecast for Ada, Oklahoma, has prompted all three games to relocate to Drury's home field.
 
The two teams will play a doubleheader starting at noon on Saturday with game one scheduled as a nine-inning contest, and the second game is slated for seven innings. Sunday's game will also have the first pitch at noon and is scheduled for nine innings.
 
The Panthers return seven starters from their line-up in addition to 10 pitchers that saw significant time on the mound last season from a team that finished 32-25, 21-12 in the GLVC, and advanced to the NCAA-II tournament for the second time in three years. Drury ended the conference regular season tied for third but finished just one game out of first place in a tight league race that saw nine teams finish within three games of one another for the regular season title.
 
Among Drury's returners are OF Clayton Engel, named a 2020 Preseason All-American by Collegiate Baseball Newspaper, and P Tom Tewes, listed as a Player to Watch in the Midwest Region by CBN. SS DJ McNew, a junior transfer from Brigham Young, was named a Newcomer to Watch in the Midwest Region by CBN.  
 
Head coach Scott Nasby returns for his eighth season leading the program and is 230-156-1 with five NCAA-II tournament appearances and two GLVC championships to his credit.
 
East Central has already played three games and is 1-2 after falling in two out of three at Delta State.
 
Admission to this weekend's games at US Baseball Park is free.
 
 
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