SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Drury came through with late runs in both halves of a doubleheader to sweep Emporia State on Saturday at Thompson Field in Springfield. The Panthers scored a run in the bottom of the seventh to win game one 2-1, then blew open a lead in sixth in a 7-1 victory in game two.
 
The Panthers improved to 17-8 while the Hornets fell to 12-16.
 
Drury won the first game as Gena Kulberg scored from third base on a wild pitch with one out in the bottom of the seventh to give the Panthers a 2-1 win. Kulberg, who entered the game in the fifth inning, led off the seventh with a triple. One out later, she came home on a pitch thrown inside to batter Meagan Mullaney to end the game. It was Drury's fourth win in their last at-bat this season.
 
Kulberg went 2 for 2, hitting a pinch-hit double in the fifth to go with her triple in the seventh. She scored both Drury runs as she tied the game in the fifth, crossing the plate on an RBI-single by Mullaney.
 
Kristina Bettis (11-1) got the win for Drury and did not allow an earned run for the sixth consecutive start as she struck out eight against one walk while she allowed two hits and one unearned run. Sydney Righi (3-4) took the loss for Emporia State.
 
The Panthers completed the sweep as they took a 2-1 lead in the fifth before breaking the game open with five runs in the sixth on their way to a 7-1 win. Drury took a 2-1 lead on a bases-loaded walk by Lauren Beier. The Panthers then got four straight hits to start the sixth, highlighted by a Rylee Kolb double that drove in two runs.
 
Mullaney went 3 for4 in game two with two runs scored and Kolb went 2 for 3 with a run and two RBI's.
 
Karsyn Smith (2-2) got the win relief for Drury as she worked the final four innings allowing two hits, no runs and no walks with four strikeouts. Gracie Rabe (1-3) took the loss for Emporia State.
 
Drury returns to conference play on Sunday when they host Southwest Baptist for a 1 pm doubleheader at Thompson Field.
 
 
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