SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Drury softball head coach Brooke Gajewski released the program's 2027 schedule on Nov. 9 for the program's 20th season.
 
The schedule begins with three early-season tournaments in Bentonville, Arkansas; Tahlequah, Oklahoma; and Smyrna, Tennessee. Across the full season, Drury will face 11 teams that reached the 2026 NCAA Division II National Tournament, including five regional champions, two super regional champions, and the national runner-up. The 56-game slate includes 20 home games at Thompson Field at Meador Park in Springfield.
 
The 2027 campaign will open in Arkansas for the Alvy Early Memorial Classic, where the Panthers will battle Arkansas Tech and Arkansas-Monticello on opening day, Feb. 6. The event will conclude on Feb. 7 when Drury faces East Central and Central Super Regional champion Missouri Southern.
 
Following the trip to Arkansas, Drury will head to Tahlequah, Oklahoma, for the Cherokee Nation Festival. While in Tahlequah, Drury will play Southeastern Oklahoma State and Central Oklahoma on Feb. 12, followed by Washburn and Sul Ross State on Feb. 13.
 
Drury's third consecutive early-season tournament will be hosted by Trevecca Nazarene in Smyrna, Tennessee. The Panthers will face five Gulf South Conference teams over a six-game stretch. The event opens on Feb. 19 with games against Ashland and Union. It will continue on Feb. 20 with two games against Delta State and Lee before concluding on Feb. 21 against Alabama Huntsville and Trevecca Nazarene.
 
The Panthers will step out of tournament play to open Thompson Field with six straight home games, beginning March 4 with a doubleheader against Pittsburg State, followed by two games against Purdue Northwest on March 6. The homestand concludes March 7 with a twin bill against Augustana.
 
Drury will play its first road doubleheader of the season on March 9 at Emporia State.
 
The Panthers return to tournament play March 13-14 when they travel to Mansfield, Ohio, to face Seton Hill and Hillsdale across the two-day event.
 
Drury's nonconference schedule concludes March 17 with a doubleheader at Rogers State.
 
Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) play begins March 21 when the Panthers travel to national tournament qualifier Missouri S&T.
 
Drury's first home GLVC games come March 27 when the Panthers host Southwest Baptist for a Saturday doubleheader.
 
Other notable GLVC matchups include a trip to Rockhurst on April 4. The Hawks captured the GLVC Tournament title last season. The Panthers then host Indianapolis on April 25 in the Greyhounds' final season in the GLVC, one year after Indianapolis won a Midwest Regional title. Drury's final road games of the regular season come May 2 against national runner-up McKendree.
 
The regular season concludes May 8 when the Panthers host Missouri-St. Louis.
 
The GLVC Tournament will be held in Crown Point, Indiana, from May 12-15. The top eight teams in the conference standings will advance to the double-elimination tournament.
 
Chattanooga, Tennessee, will once again host the NCAA Division II Softball World Series from June 3-9.
 
Drury returns all-conference pitcher Jordyn Foley. Foley posted a 15-12 record with a 2.88 ERA and 16 complete games last season. Other key returners include Reece Anderson, Landry Cochran, Natalie Wilks, Claire Nelson, and Jordan Meng.
 
Drury finished last season with a 27-29 record, reaching the GLVC Tournament semifinals for the second consecutive season.
 
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