Baseball Preview
Drury Panthers (2-4, 0-0 GLVC) vs. Grand Valley St. Lakers (1-1, 0-0 GLIAC)
February 22-24, 2025
Mark Worley Field at Meador Park
 
Game Information
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Game Notes
 
Drury set to host Grand Valley State in four-game set
The regaining Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) Tournament champions will travel south to Springfield, to square off with Drury in a four-game series at Mark Worley Field at Meador Park starting February 22.
 
Drury is coming off a doubleheader split against #7 Missouri Southern. The Panthers were supposed to meet MSSU as a part of the MSSU Lion Classic but with winter weather forcing teams to back out, the Lions made the trip to Springfield for two. Cody Bahl got the ball for game one striking out eight in six innings, but his effort was not enough. Game two was the Nick Gales show. Gales threw his first complete game with two earned runs and six strikeouts, in the game two 9-3 Drury win. Jackson Crider recorded his first career home run in the win.
 
The Panthers are expected to run Bahl, Gales, Markell Dixon, and Wesley Laaker out to the mound in the four-game series. Dixon and Laaker have not pitched since the team's opening weekend trip to Hawai'i where they both were credited with a loss. Drury's First and Third Baseman, Gabe Russell and Jackson Crider, will both enter the weekend getting at least one hit in all six games the Panthers have played in. Luke Matschiner has reached bases in all six of those games.
 
The Lakers have only played in two games this season after their doubleheader last Saturday against Tiffin was canceled. Grand Valley State split with Findlay the day prior in Cincinnati. GVSU allowed 16 runs in their first game of the season but responded with only four in the next game. The Lakers were picked to finish second in the GLIAC preseason poll behind Wayne State. They return five all-GLIAC players in position players, Jonas Gullbrandsen, Ryan Dykstra, Brendan Guciardo, and Ayden VanEnkevort. Their one all-GLIAC pitcher to return, Mike Morawski, did not pitch last weekend against Findlay. GVSU relied on two division one transfers, Jayden Dentler and Ethan Houghtaling, against the Oilers. Dentler and Houghtaling were members of the Western Michigan team that made the NCAA-I National Tournament last season.
 
Following this weekend, Drury will head to St. Louis to play a four-game series against #25 Maryville in a non-conference bout.
QUICK FACTS

Probable Starters
DRURY
LHP Cody Bahl (0-1, 5.73 ERA)
RHP Nick Gales (1-0, 1.64 ERA)
RHP Markell Dixon (0-1, 3.60 ERA)
RHP Wesley Laaker (0-1, 27.00 ERA)
 
GRAND VALLEY ST.
RHP Ethan Houghtaling (0-1, 9.82 ERA)
RHP Jayden Dentler (0-0, 3.00 ERA)
LHP Mike Morawski (Has not played) *
RHP Owen Avery (Has not played) *
*Based on last season
 
 
Head Coach
Drury - Scott Nasby (13^th season, 335-228-1)
GVSU – Jordan Keur (2^nd season, 31-26)
 
Stat Leaders
Drury - #10 Nick Gales (1.64 ERA, 1-0, 1 CG, 11 IP), #34 Jackson Crider (.421BA, 1.152 OPS), #15 Landon Willbrand (25 TC, 7 PO, 18 A, 1.000 FLD%)
GVSU - #16 Jayden Dentler (3.00 ERA, 3 IP), #6 Caleb Estrada (.500BA, 1.000 OPS), #28 Brendan Guciardo (20 TC, 20 PO, 1.000 FLD%)
 
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