SPRINGFIELD, Mo.- Two late-inning rallies by Drury opponents dropped the Panthers to 2-2 on Saturday in their season-opening Drury Invitational tournament at Meador Park.
 
After winning 15-7 in six innings over Upper Iowa, and 17-3 in five innings against Midwestern State on Friday, Drury opened the second day of their tournament against Nebraska-Kearney and fell 6-4.
 
Trailing 4-2 in the fifth, Drury sophomore Lauren Beier slammed a two-run home run that tied the game at 4-4. Nebraska-Kearney (8-6) took back the lead in the top of the six as Lauren Struebing came across the plate as the Lopers executed a double-steal. Then Abbie Vodicka's double gave Nebraska-Kearney a 6-4 lead.
 
Beier went 2 for 4 in the game and drove in all four of Drury's runs. She took the loss in the pitching circle, however, working a complete game allowing nine hits, six runs and four earned runs with one walk and five strikeouts.
 
In Drury's second game of the tournament, the Panthers owned a 3-2 lead in the seventh inning when Northwest Missouri State erupted for six runs to take the contest 8-3. Two Drury errors factored into the six-run frame, with two runs coming home on a throwing error that followed a sacrifice fly.
 
Haylee VanDeventer took the loss for the Panthers but only allowed two earned runs as she worked all seven innings.
 
The Bearcats improved to 4-0 with the win.
 
Drury concludes the tournament on Sunday when they host Upper Iowa at noon at Meador Park.
 
 
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