SPRINGFIELD, Mo.- The Drury Panthers split a doubleheader against Missouri Western State on Thursday at Thompson Field in Springfield, falling in nine innings in game one, 4-3, then rallied to a 5-2 win in the second game.
 
Drury moved their record to 4-3 while the Griffons suffered their first loss of the season in game two to drop to 5-1.
 
Game one was deadlocked 2-2 going into the sixth inning when Missouri Western took a one-run lead on a solo home run by Brea Blanton. The Panthers were down to their final out but stayed alive when Hannah Chambliss scored from third base on a Griffons error that forced extra innings.
 
In the top of the ninth, Missouri Western took the lead for good on an RBI-double by Sierra Culver and took the win 4-3.
 
Sydney Rader (3-0) went all nine innings to get the win for Missouri Western, while Bailee Nixon (1-1) worked four innings in relief and took the loss.
 
In game two, the Panthers trailed 2-1 going into the bottom of the sixth but took the game over, scoring four times in the frame. Gena Kulberg drew a bases-loaded walk to tie the game, then Rylee Kolb, in a pinch-hit at-bat, drove in two more with a single. Devin Hale then singled in another run to give Drury a 5-2 lead.
 
Haylee VanDeventer (2-1) got the win going seven innings, allowing five hits and two runs with one walk and four strikeouts.
 
Drury plays again on Saturday when they travel to Northeastern State for a 1 pm doubleheader in Tahlequah, Oklahoma.
 
 
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