OZARK, Mo. — The Drury Panthers took the final game of their three game series with East Central in a 5-3 win on Sunday at US Baseball Park in Ozark. 

Jackson Dierenfeldt got the Panthers on the board in the bottom of the fourth with an RBI single to plate Bayler Hinz.  East Central evened the score in the top of the fifth on an RBI double to left center.  Hinz put DU back on top 3-1 in the fifth on an RBI double up the middle to score Jacob Mitchell and Nikko Calabro.

East Central took advantage of an error in the top of the eighth to plate a run and pull to within a run 3-2.  With the bases loaded and one out Hinz came in to pitch in relief and held the Tigers off the board in the eighth.  A wild pitch and a throwing error on consecutive plays in the Panther eighth extended the lead to 5-2.  East Central tacked on a ninth inning RBI single for the games final tally.
 
Panthers starter Kaden Helsel (1-0) earned the win with five K's in five innings of action.  Hinz earned his second save in 1.2 innings on the mound.  Calabro went 2-for-2 with a run and Mitchell was 2-for-4 with two runs for the Panthers who finished with eight hits.
  
Drury will return to US Baseball Park next for a four games series starting next Friday against Winona State.  First pitch Friday is set for a 3 p.m.