OZARK, Mo.— Drury found themselves in a slugfest against Winona St. in the opening game of the season but lost 8-7 in 10 innings.
 
The Panthers fell to 0-1 while Winona St. raised their record to 2-1.
 
Drury started the game off with a 2-0 lead behind three scoreless innings from starting pitcher Kaleb Schmidt in his return from Tommy John surgery. The Panthers found themselves in an even game at 5-5 after Clayton Engel's two-run home run in the bottom of the fifth.
 
After Winona St. took a 6-5 lead in the top of the seventh, the Panthers scratched across two runs in the bottom of the eighth to give themselves a 7-6 lead headed into the ninth inning.
 
Winona St. led off the ninth inning with a home run and the Panthers were unable to retake the lead in the bottom half. Winona pushed another run across in extra innings to secure the lead and the victory by a score of 8-7.
 
The Panthers were led on offense by junior shortstop DJ McNew and senior outfielder Clayton Engel. McNew went 3 for 5 with two triples and two runs. Engel went 2 for 5 with a two-run home run and four runs batted in.
 
"If DJ barrels balls up like he did today, he adds a great offensive spark that this lineup would gladly welcome. Engel brings consistency, and guys are always pulling for him," said head coach Scott Nasby.
 
Winona St. was led on offense by junior catcher Derek Baumgartner. Baumgartner was 3 for 5 with three runs batted in.
 
Baylor Hinz (0-1) took the loss for the Panthers after allowing two runs across two innings.
 
Cameron Kramer (1-0) took the win in relief for Winona St. while Nick Herold got his second save of the year.
 
Despite the loss, the Panthers' pitchers broke a program record with 16 strikeouts in the game (Schmidt 6, Tom Tewes 5, Mason Meeks 2, Baylor Hinz 3).
 
The Panthers continue their opening weekend on Sunday against Maryville at U.S. Ballpark with a scheduled start time of 3:30 p.m.
 
 
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