SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Drury got a win by run-rule, then a walk-off home run to get a doubleheader sweep of Illinois Springfield on Saturday at Thompson Field in Springfield. The Panthers won game one 10-0 in five innings, then
Lauren Beier broke a 2-2 tie with two in the bottom of the seventh to deliver a 3-2 win for Drury in game two.
The Panthers lifted their record to 24-24 and 12-8 in the Great Lakes Valley Conference. The Prairie Stars fell to 31-20 and 12-10 in the GLVC. Illinois Springfield was ranked fourth in the Midwest Region entering Saturday's doubleheader.
Drury jumped out of the gate scoring six runs in the first inning of game one. The Panthers sent 10 batters to the plate as
Gracie Thomas opened the scoring with a two-RBI single. Kailyn Luna, Sophia Luettick, and
Camryn BeDell all drove in a run in the first inning that included a run scoring on a wild pitch.
The Panthers added two runs in the second and two more in the third.
Thomas finished the game going 2 for 3 with a double and four RBI's. Nine different Drury batters had at least one hit in the game.
Kristina Bettis (13-12) got the win going and held Illinois Springfield to one hit through five shutout innings.
In game two,
Lauren Beier delivered with the sweep with a bottom of the seventh solo home run. With two outs and the count 3-2, Beier belted a pitch over the left-center fence for her fourth homer of the year.
Illinois Springfield posted a run in the first two innings, but the Panthers tied the game in the third when
Rylee Kolb drove in two runs with a triple.
Bettis (14-12) pitched the top of the seventh for Drury and retired all three batters she faced to get the win in relief.
Karsyn Smith got a no-decision after going six innings and allowed seven hits and two runs with no walks and five strikeouts.
Drury will go into the final day of the regular season in a three-way for seventh in the GLVC standings. The Panthers, Illinois Springfield and Quincy are all 12-10 going in the final day with Rockhurst at 12-9 headed into Sunday. The fifth place team in the league and the 10
th place team in the GLVC are separated by only three games in the conference standings.
Drury ends the regular season at home on Sunday when they host Lewis (31-16, 13-9) in a doubleheader starting at noon at Thompson Field.
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