SPRINGFIELD, Mo.— The Drury Panthers fell short in their season opener and first game at the renovated Mark Worley Field at Meador Park against Missouri Western State 9-6 on Saturday.  
 
Saturday's game was the first of three scheduled for the series against the Griffons. The win moved Missouri Western State to 6-2 on the season, while the Panthers fell to 0-1.
 
The Panthers started the game with a run in the first inning on a Wes Collins single that scored Kellen Williamson. The Griffons would respond in the third inning, scoring two runs on a single up the middle from Ryan Koval to make it a 2-1 game.
 
The Griffons padded their lead after scoring again in the top of the seventh to take a 3-1 lead. Drury punched back in the bottom half of the inning, scoring two after a mammoth blast off the bat of Ryker Harrington tied the game at 3-3.
 
Missouri Western State found their groove in the eighth, scoring six runs on five hits. Third baseman Jackson Bryant started the Griffon scoring attack, clearing the bases for a three RBI triple. Travis Wiese did damage soon after, with a two-run homer to dead center to make it a 9-3 game.
 
The Panthers would mount a small rally in the bottom of the ninth inning, scoring three runs before ultimately falling short. The Drury trio of Wes Collins, Max Elmer, and Landon Willbrand had two hits in the contest for the Panthers.

Drury starter Cody Bahl was solid, tossing seven innings while only allowing no earned runs and striking out seven. Luc Fuller took the loss for the Panthers.
 
The series will conclude with a doubleheader on Sunday starting at 12 pm at Mark Worley Field at Meador Park.
 
 
 
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