ST. JOSEPH, Mo. –The Drury softball Panthers dropped a pair of non-conference games, 5-4 and 10-1 at Missouri Western on Sunday.

In the opener, Drury scored three runs in the opening inning on three hits that included a pair of RBI doubles from Kinzy Mathis and Madison Hecker.  Missouri Western countered with two runs of their own in the bottom half of the first to cut the Panther lead to 3-2.  Drury made it a 4-2 lead in the second frame when Mathis tripled home Jacy Ummel.  The Griffons tied it up in the bottom of the third with an RBI walks and fielders choices. 

After a scoreless fourth inning, a solo shot by Missouri Western's Rian Gere would be the difference as the Griffons escaped with a 5-4 victory. 

Both teams finished with seven hits and Drury was led by Mathis who went 2-for-4 with two RBIs and a run and Hecker who also went 2-for-4 with one RBI. Lauren Beier (2-4) received the loss and Kelly Uthe (5-4) picked up the win.

In the nightcap, it was all Griffons, as Missouri Western scored 10 runs on 12 hits to post a 10-1 victory.  Ummel had the Panthers lone RBI in the fifth inning.  Kaili Hinds (5-2) held the Panthers to three hits in the win with Haylee Van Deventer (3-1) receiving the loss.

The Drury softball team returns to action on Tuesday, March 10th when they will travel to Central Missouri for a double header starting at 3 p.m.