KIRKSVILLE, Mo.— Clayton Engel became the second player in program history to hit three home runs in a game as the Drury Panthers defeated Truman State 19-6 in seven innings on Friday in Kirksville, Missouri.
 
Drury improved to 10-19 and 10-15 in the Great Lakes Valley Conference, while the Bulldogs fell to 4-25 and 4-17 in the league.
 
The Panthers scored eight runs in the first inning, then, leading 8-3 in the second, Engel led off the frame with a home run. Drury expanded their lead an inning later as Engel hit a two-run bomb to right field. The senior from Ozark smacked his third homer of the game with a solo shot in the sixth that capped the Panthers scoring giving them a 19-6 lead.
 
Friday's game marked the third multi-home run game in Engel's career and was only the second time in team history a Drury player has hit three home runs in a game. Luke Tewes hit three homers in a contest on Feb. 20, 2015, against St. Edward's.
 
Engel ended the day going 3 for 4 with a walk, four runs scored, and five runs batted in. His home run total for the season was raised to seven. He also set the program's all-time record for career homers as he passed Tyler Goss (2007-10) as Engel connected on career round-trippers number 22, 23, and 24 on Friday.
 
DU catcher Nikko Calabro went 4 for 4 with two runs, five RBI's, and a double.
 
Drury ended the game with 19 runs on 19 hits, all nine Panthers in the starting line-up collected at least one hit, and they put up 18 runs in the first four innings. Logan Pittman (1-2) got the win pitching 2.1 innings of scoreless relief. Connor McKenna (0-5) took the loss for Truman State.
 
The two teams continue the four-game series on Saturday with a doubleheader at noon in Kirksville, Missouri.
 
 
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