OZARK, Mo.— DJ McNew's hit into the left-center gap drove in Stephen Randazzo in the bottom of the 12th inning to give the Drury Panthers an 8-7 win and a three-game series sweep of Wisconsin-Parkside at US Baseball Park in Ozark on Sunday.
 
The Panthers improved to 10-5 while the Rangers fell to 0-3.
 
Drury was down to their final out in the bottom of the ninth when Jackson Dierenfeldt walked to keep the Panthers alive. Brant Schaffitzel also drew a base-on-balls, then Clayton Engel forced extra innings with a two-run double that tied the game at 7-7.
 
Both teams had base runners in each extra frame, but Drury would score the game-winning run as Randazzo reached base on a two-out single, then McNew drove a ball to left-center that was nearly caught on a diving play by Ranger's centerfielder Jared Heinzen. The ball deflected off Heinzen's glove, and Randazzo motored home from first base.
 
"We had opportunities in each of the extra innings, and at some point, something has to fall, and it did," said Drury head coach Scott Nasby. "Their kid made a great play, and he almost caught that ball, but this was a good win for us."
 
Mason Meeks (1-0) got the win in relief pitching the 10th, 11th, and 12 innings allowing no runs on three hits with no walks and four strikeouts. He got out of a 10th inning jam when Parkside's lead-off hitter in the frame reached base on a single, then advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt. Meeks recorded back-to-back strikeouts to keep the game tied.
 
"(Meeks) has been huge of the bullpen," said Nasby about Meeks. "He's gone nine scoreless innings in relief now. He had a start in Hawaii, but he's been really good out of the pen. He comes in with high energy, he's not worried about his pitch count, and he just wants to get it done for his team."
 
Engel reached base five times in the game, going 3 for 4 with three RBI's, two runs, a double, triple, and two walks. Riley Herron, who went 6 for 7 at the plate in Saturday's doubleheader, hit his second home run of the season and went 2 for 6 with two runs scored. In addition to the home run, Herron scored on steal of home plate in the fifth inning that gave Drury a 5-4 lead.
 
Parkside scored three runs in the top of the eighth to take a 7-5 lead before the Panthers bottom of the ninth rally.
 
Drury returns to action on Tuesday when they take on fifth-ranked Central Missouri at 6 pm in Warrensburg, Missouri.
 
 
#allweDUiswin