MARION, Ill.— The Drury Panthers went to extra innings for the second straight game in the Great Lakes Valley Conference, but this time prevailed with two runs in the 10
th to defeat Rockhurst 6-4 on Friday at Mtn. Dew Park in Marion, Illinois.
Drury advances to Game 9 of the tournament and will play Saturday at 9 am against the loser of the Maryville vs. William Jewell game scheduled for 4 pm on Friday.
The Panthers, the third seed in the tournament, advance with a 27-24 record while Rockhurst, seeded seventh, end their season with a 27-24 mark.
Friday's game was scoreless through four innings, then Drury broke through with a run in the fifth on a RBI double by
Kaden Byrne. The Hawks matched Drury's run in the fifth and did the same when the Panthers scored a run in the sixth.
Drury took a 4-2 lead to the bottom of the ninth, but Rockhurst pushed the game to extra innings and got a pinch-hit RBI single from Peyton Clerk when they were down to their final out.
The Panthers bounced back in the top of the 10
th with the two deciding runs.
Connor Bain drew a walk to start the inning and was followed by a single from
Luke Burk.
Luke Matschiner put down a bunt that moved the runners to second and third, setting up a pair of runs. Bain crossed the plate from third on an error at first base, then Burk scored on a wild pitch.
JD Whitter pitched the 10
th inning for the Panthers and struck out the first two batters he faced before allowing a single. Whitter got a fly ball to right field to end the game and give him his second save of the year.
Luc Fuller (3-1) got the win in relief for Drury and pitched three innings, allowing three hits and two unearned runs with no walks and three strikeouts. Starter
Cade Waits got a no-decision after working six innings and surrendering seven hits, two runs, and one earned run with a pair of walks, and he struck out six.
Jake Canent (10-5) took the loss in relief for the Hawks.
Burk went 2 for 4 with two runs and an RBI, while Bain was 2 for 4 with two runs scored.
Drury improved to 4-2 this season in extra-inning games and they went to 7-5 in games decided in the last at-bat.
Saturday's 9 am contest is an elimination game for both teams. The winner will play again on Saturday at 4 pm in Game 11 of the tournament.
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