WARRENSBURG, Mo. –The Drury softball Panthers split a non-conference pair, winning the nightcap 7-4 after dropping the opener 4-1 at Central Missouri on Tuesday.

In the opener, Central Missouri scored in the opening frame then held the Panthers off the board until the top of the third when an RBI single by Kinzy Mathis plated Abbey Tiemann to even the score.  Central Missouri went back on top 4-1 in the bottom of the sixth with a pair of RBI hits that included a two run homer.

Drury finished with four hits to Central Missouri's six in the contest. Kasey Cazares (4-5) received the loss and Paige Petefish (6-2) earned the win.

In the nightcap, Drury struck first again on a solo homer by Megan Holmes in the second frame. Madoline Seumalo made it 3-0 Panthers in the fourth inning with an RBI double to left that scored a pair of Panthers.  Tiemann capped off a five run four hit fourth inning to push the DU lead to 6-0 after four innings.

UCM got on the board in the fifth but Drury countered when Abbey McAteer gave DU their second homer of the game to lead off the top of the sixth.  Central Missouri added a run in the bottom half of the sixth and scored twice in the seventh but could not draw any closer.

Holmes paced the Panther bats and went 2-for-4, scored two runs, and had an RBI.  Ashlyn Cook went 3-for-4 for the Jennies and both teams finished with nine hits. 

Lauren Beier (3-4) earned the win and went 6.2 innings with Haylee Van Deventer earning her first save of the season.

The Drury softball team returns to action on Saturday, March 14th when they will travel to Truman State to open GLVC action.  First pitch is set for noon in Kirksville.