BENTONVILLE, Ark. – The Drury Panthers finished with two losses on the first day of the Alvy Early Tournament in Bentonville, Arkansas on Friday. Drury was blanked by thirteenth ranked Southern Arkansas, 2-0, in their first game, then fell 5-3 to Harding in their second contest.
 
Southern Arkansas' Sydney Ward (2-1) threw a complete game shutout, only allowing one hit to the Panthers and striking out nine. Drury centerfielder, Taylor Hartsell, had the lone hit for the Panthers in game one.
 
Kristina Bettis (0-1) took the mound for the Panthers, walking three and striking out five batters. Southern Arkansas found life in the 7^th inning after a Panthers fielding error allowed two runs to score. The Lady Mule Riders would defend the lead, holding on for a 2-0 victory.
 
The Panthers offense started hot in game two, with a solo shot off the bat of Lauren Beier in the first inning. Harding, a team receiving votes for the NCAA-II top 25, would also start hot offensively, scoring four runs in the bottom of the 1^st inning.
 
The Panthers fired right back in the second inning, scoring two runs on a single by Brooklyn LaChappa, which drove in Kaley Adzick and Sophia Luetticke to make it a one run game. Ashton Bryce would give the Lady Mule Riders insurance in the 4^th inning, driving in Tori Turner with a triple to make it a 5-3 game. Harding shut down every Drury rally, holding their lead and closing out the Panthers for the win.
 
Sophia Luetticke and Rylee Kolb both finished with multi-hit games, and Drury had nine hits as a team. Aj Agers (0-1) took the loss for the Panthers, while Riley Price (3-1) was awarded the win for Harding.
 
Drury will be back in action tomorrow to take on Southeastern Oklahoma State at 11am and Arkansas Monticello at 1:30 pm in Bentonville, Arkansas  

 
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