SOFTBALL PREVIEW
Drury Panthers (15-8, 3-1) vs. Emporia St. Hornets (12-14) / Southwest Baptist Bearcats (5-12, 0-2)
Thompson Field at Meador Park
Sat. (DH), 2 pm
Sun. (DH), 1 pm

Drury is at home for two doubleheaders this weekend as the Panthers host Emporia State in a doubleheader at 2 pm on Saturday and Southwest Baptist in a conference doubleheader at 1 pm on Sunday at Thompson Field in Springfield.
 
The Panthers are 15-8 and 3-1 in the Great Lakes Valley Conference. Drury opened their league schedule on the road earlier this week and split a doubleheader at Rockhurst, then swept William Jewell on Tuesday. The Panthers have won 11 of their last 14 games.
 
Emporia State is 12-14 has lost three straight. The Hornets were swept in a doubleheader at William Jewell on Wednesday, falling 6-3 and 8-7. Emporia State has already played in nine one-run games and is 3-6 in those contests.
 
Southwest Baptist goes into the weekend 5-12 and 0-2 in the GLVC. The Bearcats were swept in their conference opener by Rockhurst, falling 4-3 and 10-0. SBU rebounded from their two losses to the Hawks to sweep Northwest Oklahoma State with an 8-7 win, then a 3-1 victory. Southwest Baptist is at Missouri S&T for a doubleheader on Saturday before coming to Springfield on Sunday.
 
Drury will be playing Emporia State for the first time since 2017. The Panthers are 1-3 all-time against the Hornets. Drury is 20-14 all-time against Southwest Baptist and has played SBU once already this season, having defeated the Bearcats 7-1 on Feb. 27 at Thompson Field. Lauren Beier got the win in that contest, and Morgan Parsley went 2 for 2 with 3 RBI's and a triple.
 
The Panthers will be home for four games next weekend following this weekend's games, hosting Maryville on March 26 and Missouri S&T on March 27.
 
Diamond Notes
-- Abby Tiemann has an eight-game hitting streak and has gone 2 for 4 in five straight games…she is hitting .467 during the streak (14 for 30)
-- Kristina Bettis has not allowed an earned run in her last five starts and 35 innings…already this week, she has gone 2-0 with a 0.00 ERA and threw a no-hitter on Monday at Rockhurst
-- One-third of Drury's wins have come through shutout and the Panthers are 5-2 in shutout games this year
-- Drury is at home for non-tournament games for the first time this season…the Panthers are 3-2 on their home field this year
 
DRURY QUICK FACTS
Live coverage
Video- www.glvsn.com/drury
Live Stats- ww.drurypanthers.com     
 
Probable Starters for Drury (both days)
RHP Kristina Bettis (10-1, 1.69 ERA)
LHP Karsyn Smith (1-2, 2.88 ERA)
 
Head Coach
Jerry Breaux (5^th year, 107-81 / 29^th year, 846-489-2)
 
Stat Leaders
DU- Gracie Thomas (.388, 2 HR, 9 RBI), Morgan Parsley (.377, 1 HR, 13 RBI), Lauren Beier (.319, 6 HR, 16 RBI), Kristina Bettis (10-1, 1.69 ERA, 83.0 IP, 49 BB, 118 SO)
 
ESU- Brittanie Shepherd (.388, 0 HR, 18 RBI), Alexis Dial (.348, 0 HR, 11 RBI), Karly Johnson (.237, 1 HR, 15 RBI), Sydney Righi (3-3, 2.89 ERA)
 
SBU- Kaitlyn Bagby (.364, 0 HR, 5 RBI), Meadow Vasser (.280, 0 HR, 0 RBI), Margo Frossard (.273, 1 HR, 5 RBI), Hallie Henderson (1-1, 2.74 ERA)
 
Drury Summary
Record: 15-8 (3-1)
Current Streak: Won 2
All-time series vs. Emporia St.: 1-3
All-time series vs. Southwest Baptist: 19-14
Record in last four games: 3-1
Record at home: 3-2 (0-0)
Record on the road: 4-2 (3-1)
Record on neutral field: 8-4
Record vs. ranked opponents: 1-4
In 1-run games: 3-3
In last At-Bat: 3-2
Extra Innings: 1-0
Shutouts: 5-2
Run Rule Games: 2-0
Leading after 5 inn: 13-0
Trailing after 5 inn: 0-7
Tied after 5 inn: 2-1
Leading after 6 inn: 13-1
Trailing after 6 inn: 0-7
Tied after 6 inn: 2-0
Best record: 15-8 (3-1)
Worst record: 1-3 (1-1)
Longest win streak: 6 (Feb. 20-Mar. 4)
Longest losing streak: 2 (2x, last Feb. 19-20)
 
 
#allweDUiswin