SPRINGFIELD, Mo.— The Drury Panthers ended the regular season and completed a four-game series sweep of Southwest Baptist in a 7-5 win over the Bearcats at Mark Worley Field at Meador Park on Saturday.
Drury ended the regular season 31-21, 21-11 in the Great Lakes Valley Conference and winners of six straight. Southwest Baptist ended their year with a 15- 35 record and an 8-24 mark in the GLVC.
The Bearcats owned a 3-0 lead going into the bottom of the third when the Panthers got on the board with a run on an RBI double by
Wyatt Morgan. Drury went in front for the first time an inning later as
Gabe Russell's two-run home run to right field put the Panthers in the lead 4-3.
Southwest Baptist tied the game in the sixth and again in the seventh, but Drury took the lead for good on a solo homer from Morgan as his 11
th blast of the year put the Panthers up 6-5. Drury tacked on another run in the eighth to win by two.
Russell finished the game going 3 for 4 with two runs, three RBIs, his second home run of season, and a double.
Hesston Gray was 3 for 4 with two runs and two stolen bases, and Morgan went 2 for 4 with a double, home run, and two RBIs.
Zach McKinnis (4-2) got the win in relief for the Panthers, Jake Fuller (1-4) took the loss for the Bearcats, and
Luc Fuller pitched the ninth inning to earn his seventh save.
Zeke Skinner was 4 for 5 for the Bearcats with two runs scored.
Before the game, the Panthers honored 12 graduating players as part of Senior Day on the final game of the regular season.
Drury will advance to the GLVC Tournament, which starts Wednesday, May 7 at Mt. Dew Park in Marion, Ill.
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