BASEBALL PREVIEW
Drury Panthers (17-14, 15-5) vs. Illinois Springfield Prairie Stars (19-14, 10-10)
April 12-14, 2024
Mark Worley Field at Meador Park
 
Tickets
$5 (children under 12, FREE)

LIVE COVERAGE
Live Video
Live Stats
 
Panthers open home series vs. Prairie Stars on Friday
The Drury Panthers host Illinois Springfield in a four-game series starting Friday at the newly renovated Mark Worley Field at Meador Park. Friday's game is slated for a 5 pm start, with a doubleheader scheduled for Saturday starting at 1 pm. The series concludes on Sunday, with the first pitch set for noon.
 
Both teams come into the match-up looking to take an advantage in the all-time series lead, with the current mark tied at 14-14. The Prairie Stars took three of four from the Panthers in last season's series in Springfield, Illinois.
 
The Panthers are currently 17-14 and 15-5 in the GLVC after taking three of four games from McKendree in Lebanon, Illinois. Illinois Springfield is 19-14 and 10-10 in the conference and will come to Springfield having dropped three of four games to Indianapolis at home.
 
Drury is expected to start left-hander Cody Bahl in Friday's game. The junior from Lee's Summit, Missouri, is 4-1 with a 3.28 earned run average and has struck out 55 batters while allowing just 12 walks in 57.2 innings. Bahl owns the best ERA in the league and is third in the conference in strikeouts.
 
Panthers first baseman Luke Burk is second in the GLVC in home runs and has already tied Drury's single-season record with 13. The Galena, Missouri, native is hitting .333 and has a team-leading 42 runs batted in.
 
Probable Starters
DRURY
LHP Cody Bahl (4-1, 3.28 ERA)
RHP Wes Laaker (3-4, 7.42 ERA)
RHP Cade Waits (6-0, 4.09 ERA)
RHP Jack Jones (3-0, 5.34 ERA)
 
Illinois Springfield
RHP Gavin Wahlbrink (4-2, 5.29 ERA)
RHP Adam Lindsey (1-3, 7.34 ERA)
RHP Jacob Newman (1-5, 9.30 ERA)
RHP Adam Wibbenmeyer (1-1, 4.33 ERA)
 
Diamond Notes
-- Cody Bahl leads the GLVC with a 3.28 ERA
-- Cade Waits is second in the GLVC in wins with 6
-- Luke Burk is second in the GLVC in home runs with 13
 
Head Coach
Drury- Scott Nasby (12th year, 352-243-1)
Illinois Springfield- Trevor Forde (1^st Year, 19-14)
 
Stat Leaders
Drury: Luke Burk (.333 AVG, .467 OBP, .792 SLG, 13 HR, 42 RBI, 14 BB), Max Elmer (.351 AVG, .474 OBP, .505 SLG, 11 2B, 3 3B), Connor Bain (.347 AVG, .444 OBP, 9 SB, 34 H), Wes Collins (.337 AVG, .413 OBP, .604 SLG, 5 HR, 29 RBI, 7 SB),  Cody Bahl (4-1, 3.28 ERA, 55 SO), Cade Waits (6-0, 4.09 ERA, 33 SO)

Illinois Springfield: Mark Kattula (.419 AVG, 1.116 OPS, .645 SLG, 5 HR, 37 RBI), Brant Vanaman (.374 AVG, .486 OBP, 1.248 OPS,  8 HR, 39 RBI), Jacyk Uehling (.330 AVG, .446 OBP, 23 BB, 5 SB), Gavin Wahlbrink (4-2, 5.29 ERA, 38 SO)
 
Drury Summary
Record: 17-14 (15-5, GLVC)
Current Streak: Won 3 (Won 3 in GLVC)
Record in last five games: 3-2
Record at home: 10-10 (9-3)
Record on the road: 7-4 (6-2)
All-Time Series vs Illinois Springfield: 14-14
Last year vs Illinois Springfield: 1-3
In 1-run games: 4-3 (3-1)
Extra Innings: 2-1
Shutouts: 1-1 (1-0)
vs. RH Starter: 12-9 (10-1)
vs. LH Starter: 5-5 (5-4)
vs. Ranked teams: 1-4
In 9 inning games: 7-11 (6-3)
In 7 inning games: 10-3 (9-2)
Leading after 6 inn.: 15-3
Trailing after 6 inn.: 0-9
Tied after 6 inn.: 1-2
Leading after 7 inn.: 8-2
Trailing after 7 inn.: 0-7
Tied after 7 inn.: 1-2
Leading after 8 inn.: 6-0
Trailing after 8 inn.: 1-7
Tied after 8 inn.: 0-4
Best record: 17-14 (15-5)
Worst record: 2-7 (5-3)
Longest win streak: 6, March 22-29 (6, March 22-29)
Longest losing streak: 4, March 2-5 (1)
 
 
#allweDUiswin