SPRINGFIELD, Mo.— The Drury Panthers split games in their Sunday doubleheader against Missouri Western State, winning game one 6-5 and falling with a score of 5-4 in game two.
In game one, the Panthers trailed 4-0 after the top of the first, but Drury soon cut into the lead with an RBI double by
Wes Collins in the bottom of the inning. The Panthers then tied the game in the second after
Kellen Williamson grounded out to drive in a run and
Brandon Holdren doubled, scoring two runs.
The Griffons regained their lead in the third inning after a sac fly from Jared Munk, but the Panthers needed and a spark and found it from a
Luke Burk homer, tying the game at 5-5 in the fifth. Drury then gained their first lead of the game in the sixth after
Luke Matschiner scored on a wild pitch to give the Panthers a 6-5 lead.
Drury reliever
Cade Waits, shut down the Griffons offense, not allowing a run in three innings of work. The Panthers would ultimately hold their lead and take the victory 6-5.
Game two saw the Griffons strike early again, scoring two runs without tallying a hit. Missouri Western took advantage of four walks, a sacrifice fly and a ground ball. Drury responded in the third inning after a
Wes Collins double that scored
Brandon Holdren. The Panthers found success again in the fifth, tying the game at 2-2 with a
Luke Burk double.
Missouri Western State found themselves in striking distance in the seventh, scoring a run to take a 3-2 lead after Jackson Bryant singled to right field. The bottom half of the inning once again saw
Wes Collins step up for the Panthers, launching a solo homer over the left-center wall to tie the game at 3-3.
The Griffons once again put runners in scoring position in the eighth, eventually scoring a run on a fielder's choice and taking a one-run lead. In a game of back-and-forth play, Drury once again found a way to tie the game, scoring on a
Connor Bain single in the bottom half of the eighth. Missouri Western State ultimately pulled away in the ninth, scoring the winning run and shutting down a late rally from the Panthers for a 5-4 win.
Missouri Western State moves to 7-3 on the season, while the Panthers now rest at 1-2. Next week Drury will travel to Canyon, Texas for a series against West Texas A&M Feb. 23-25.
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