SPRINGFIELD, Mo.— Jackson Crider hit two home runs and Cody Bahl struck out eight batters in 6.2 innings as Drury opened a four-game series with a 12-2 win in 7 innings over Southwest Baptist at Mark Worley Field at Meador Park in Springfield on Thursday.
 
The Panthers improved to 28-21 and 18-11 in the Great Lakes Valley Conference, while the Bearcats fell to 15-32 and 8-21 in the GLVC.
 
Drury scored a run in the second inning and another run in the third before breaking the game open in the fourth. The Panthers put up six runs in the fourth, capped by a two-run home run by Jackson Crider to give Drury an 8-0 lead.
 
Drury's lead grew to double-digits in the sixth. Luke Matschiner drove in a run with a ground ball, then Crider blasted his second home run of the game and his team-leading 11^th of the year with a three-run bomb that put the Panthers in front 12-0.
 
Southwest Baptist tacked on two runs in the seventh, but Zach McKinnis came out of the Drury bullpen to get a ground ball to end the game in seven innings.
 
Bahl (4-4) got the win, going 6.2 innings allowing five hits and two runs with three walks and eight strikeouts. The eight punch-outs gave Bahl 22 in his last two starts and 14.2 innings pitched.
 
Crider ended the game going 3 for 4 with two homers and five runs batted in. Wyatt Morgan went 3 for 3 with a double, a home run (his ninth of the year), three RBIs, and a walk.
 
Roberto Garcia (2-5) took the loss for Southwest Baptist.
 
The 10-run victory marked Drury's fifth win by double-digits this season and the fourth time they have run-ruled an opponent this season.
 
The two teams continue their four-game series with a doubleheader on Friday. Game one of the twinbill is at noon at Mark Worley Field at Meador Park.
 
 
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