EAST PEORIA, Ill. – Drury pitching held sixth-ranked Indianapolis to just four hits but the Greyhounds scratched out two runs for a 2-0 win in the first round of the Great Lakes Valley Conference Tournament at the EastSide Centre in East Peoria, Illinois, on Thursday.
 
The Panthers, seeded eighth in the tournament, will move to the elimination bracket with a 25-26. Top-seeded Indianapolis, who won 20 of their 23 regular season conference games, advance with a 48-6 overall record.
 
Indianapolis scored in the third inning after Maddy Stout was hit by a pitch to start the frame. She scored from first on a double to Jocelyn Calvin. The Greyhounds tacked on another run in the sixth. Megan Nichols led off the inning with an infield single, then came home on a single to left an error on a misplayed ball in the outfield.
 
Drury threatened in the seventh, getting a lead-off single by Lauren Beier and a two-out hit by Gracie Thomas that put runners at the corners. Indianapolis pitcher Kenzee Smith would get a line drive out at second base to end the game.
 
Kristina Bettis (14-14) took the loss going seven innings and allowing four hits, two runs and one earned run with one walk and four strikeouts.
 
Kenzee Smith, named the GLVC Pitcher of the Year this season, improved to 29-3 and held Drury to five hits while walking two and striking out five.
 
Rylee Kolb finished the game 2 for 3 at the plate, but Panthers stranded six runners in the loss.
 
Indianapolis will take on fourth-seeded Maryville on Friday in the tournament's second round.
 
Drury will face fifth-seeded Illinois Springfield on Friday at 10 am in an elimination game. The Prairie Stars lost to Maryville, 4-3, in eight innings on Thursday.
 
 
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