SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Minnesota Duluth defeated Drury in the final game of the Drury Softball Classic in eight innings, 4-3.
 
On day one of the tournament, Drury and Duluth matched up with the Panthers winning 7-3. The Bulldogs' defense would not let Drury score easily in this game. An early run for UMD gave them a one-run advantage all the way until the sixth inning.
 
With Drury leaving six runners stranded in the first six innings, the Panthers offense had a spark. Sophia Luetticke led the inning off with a single. The Panthers were able to load the bases with Kaley Adzick at the plate. Adzick would single into center field to score Luetticke. Kenna Trower was out at the plate after trying to score from second.
 
The defenses shut down in the seventh inning, forcing the game into extra innings. Duluth put up a three-spot in the eighth inning after an RBI single and two-run homer.
 
Drury responded to the three runs. Landry Cochran and Victoria Garland both recorded RBIs in the bottom half of the eighth but their rally came up short, falling 4-3.
 
Avery Budde and Sophia Luetticke both had two hits for Drury in the loss. Luetticke also stole three bases in the game. Kaley Adzick threw a complete game, striking out eight on 130 pitches.
 
The Panthers return to the field on Wednesday in St. Joseph, Missouri, against Missouri Western for a doubleheader.
 
#OneDrury