SPRINGFIELD, Mo.— Drury swept Upper Iowa in a doubleheader on Saturday, winning game one 9-3 and taking game two in eight innings, 4-3, at Mark Worley Field at Meador Park.
The Panthers improved to 10-11 and 8-3 in the Great Lakes Valley Conference, while the Peacocks dropped to 6-16 and 3-8 in the GLVC. The four-game series, which started on Friday, was originally scheduled to be played in Fayette, Iowa, but moved to Springfield due to winter weather. The Peacocks maintain the last at-bat through all four games.
In game one, Drury scored two runs in first and took a 6-0 lead in the second inning, scoring four times in the frame, capped by a two-run home run by
Brandon Holdren. Wes Laaker (2-3) got the win for Drury as he went six innings and allowed five hits, three runs, and two earned runs with no walks and four strikeouts.
Luc Fuller pitched the seventh inning and struck out two batters to close out the game.
Drury outfielder
Max Elmer went 3 for 4 in the game with three runs scored, while Conner Bain also went 3 for 4 with two runs scored.
Luke Burk had three RBIs for the Panthers.
Upper Iowa forced extra innings in game two, tying the game at 3-3 in the bottom of the seventh on an RBI single by Jared Hoodjer. Panthers starter
Cade Waits (4-0) got a strikeout with the bases loaded to keep the game tied and send the contest to extras.
Drury reclaimed the lead in the top the eighth. The Panthers loaded the bases, and with one out in the frame,
Kellen Williamson smashed a ball that deflected off Upper Iowa's second baseman and allowed
Landon Willbrand to score from third base.
Gage Hayes pitched the seventh inning, struck out two batters, and retired all three he faced for his first save of the year. Waits picked up the win after going seven innings and allowed eight hits and three earned runs with one walk and six strikeouts.
Elmer went 2 for 3 with two doubles and an RBI. The senior from Springfield-Glendale was a combined 5 for 7 in Saturday's doubleheader.
The two teams conclude the four-game series on Sunday. The first pitch is scheduled for noon at Mark Worley Field at Meador Park.
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