JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Drury finished the opening weekend of GLVC play with a split against Lincoln, as the Blue Tigers walked off the Panthers in extra innings in game two.
 
GAME ONE – Drury 10, Lincoln 2
Less than 24 hours after Drury's most recent game, in which they scored only one run, the Panthers wanted to strike early and often against Lincoln, and they did just that.
 
In the top of the first, Emma Niemczyk singled on the third pitch of the game before she stole second. Niemczyk would move to third on a passed ball. Isabel Ervin hit Niemczyk in on a groundout for the game's first run.
 
Jordyn Foley continued her dominance from Saturday's game against Missouri S&T to Sunday. Foley would only allow one hit for the Blue Tigers through five innings.
 
Drury's offense broke the game open in the third inning. The inning started with another Niemczyk single. Landry Cochran followed Niemczyk with a single to put runners on the corners, not for long, as Cochran would steal second. Ervin would secure another RBI after reaching on a fielder's choice and driving Niemczyk in. Following an error from Lincoln, Gabrielle Bax would drive in Cochran. The Panthers scored their fourth run of the game on a sac fly from Reece Anderson.
 
The Drury bats stayed hot. In the top of the sixth, Avery Budde doubled to lead the inning off. She would be run for by Jacey Byler. Kenna Trower followed Budde with a walk. With one out, Cochran dug in and worked a full count before ripping a double to center field to extend Drury's lead to 6-0. The two-RBI double for Cochran was not the end of the inning. Cochran stole third for her second steal of the game. She came across for the innings final run on another RBI ground out from Isabel Ervin.
 
Lincoln got on the board in the sixth inning after two singles and a double gave the Blue Tigers two runs.
 
Drury put the cherry on top of their big lead at the top of the seventh. Kaley Adzick and Gabrielle Bax went back-to-back singles to bring up Reece Anderson. Anderson got behind in the count before pulling the ball to left field and lifting it over the fence for the three-run home run.
 
Brie Chilton relieved Foley in the seventh. With the help of her defense, Chilton shut the Blue Tigers' offense down to give Drury the 10-2 win.
 
GAME ONE NOTES

• It was only the second time this season that Drury scored at least one run in the first inning.
• Drury had 11 hits in the game, tying their season high.
• Three of the 11 hits came from Landry Cochran. Cochran was a home run shy of the cycle. Her fourth-inning triple was the third of her career.
• Avery Budde also had two hits in the game, noted by a double.
• The Panthers stole four bases, the most in a game this season. Cochran stole two of them.
• Reece Anderson's homer was her second career homer. She drove in four runs in the game.
• Isabel Ervin had three RBIs in the game without a hit.
• Lincoln's offense produced six hits, only one extra-base hit.
• Jordyn Foley recorded her fifth win of the season in six innings of work, allowing five hits and two runs. She struck out two batters.
• Lincoln threw three pitchers in the game. Jaedin Blankenship pitched five innings, allowing five runs, only two earned, in the 26 batters she faced.
• Drury lead-off hitters reached base five of seven times in game one.
• With runners on third, the Panthers were five-for-five in their ability to drive the run in, led by Isabel Ervin, who was three-for-three.

 
GAME TWO – Lincoln 5, Drury 4 (F/8)
After a slow game one for Lincoln, the Blue Tigers took a first-inning lead after an early error for the Panthers, 1-0.
 
Drury only had two hits through the first five innings of game two. Despite the lack of hits, the Panthers were able to manufacture a run at the top of the fourth. Landry Cochran worked a seven-pitch at-bat before walking and stealing second. Isabel Ervin and Claire Nelson would both get out but were each able to advance Cochran 60 feet and knot the game at one.
 
In the sixth, the Panthers took the lead for the first time. The inning started with Kenna Trower reaching base after being hit. Trower moved to second after a sacrifice bunt from Emma Niemczyk. A single that just got through the infield, but Trower and Cochran on the corners. Lincoln would make a pitching change, and the next pitch would result in a passed ball to score Trower.
 
Holding a 2-1 advantage, Drury added insurance in the top of the seventh. Kaley Adzick singled before being run for by Jordan Meng. Meng advanced to second via a sac bunt from Gabrielle Bax. Meng scored the Panthers' third run on a Reece Anderson double.
 
Down to their final three outs, the Blue Tigers kept their hope alive with a lead-off walk. A double from Reese Smith put two runners in scoring position for Lincoln. Kaley Adzick was able to get TK Lawson to ground out for the first out. A single to right field from Abi Jorgensen scored Brooklyn Smith to bring the game within one. Paige Rees came off the bench to pinch-hit for Ella Percival. Reese would hit a deep fly ball to center field, enough to score the tying run and send it to extra innings.
 
In the eighth, Drury loaded the bases after three singles, bringing Gabrielle Bax to the box. Lincoln's pitching staff would throw four straight balls to Bax to walk in the go-ahead run with two outs in the eighth. The Panthers were unable to add to their small advantage.
 
After a strong game one, Jordyn Foley came out of the bullpen to try to shut Lincoln down, once again. Foley would give up a double to Ann-Marie Simpson to give the Blue Tigers life. Simpson would steal third as Gracie Wright was walked on four pitches. A bunt single from Faith Jaegers scored Simpson and put Wright on third with Josie Stewart due up. Stewart put the 3-1 pitch in play, and an error for Drury would score Wright and give Lincoln the 5-4 win.
 
GAME TWO NOTES

• Drury drops to 1-2 in extra-inning games this season.
• The Panthers out-hit Lincoln 8 to 7.
• Five of Drury's eight hits came from the top three of their lineup: Emma Niemczyk (1), Landry Cochran (2), and Isabel Ervin (2).
• Kaley Adzick also added two hits.
• Ann-Marie Simpson had three hits for the Blue Tigers.
• Kaley Adzick started the game in the circle. She pitched seven innings, allowing five hits, three runs (two earned), and struck out five batters.
• Jordyn Foley relieved Adzick in the eighth inning. Foley was unable to record an out and gave up two runs.
• Abby Pulliam went 5.1 innings for Lincoln, giving up only three hits in her start.
• The winning pitcher for Lincoln was Maddie Sechrest. She gave up two runs and five hits in 2.2 innings of work.
• Both teams were 4-for-16 with the bases empty.
• Drury out-hit Lincoln with two runners in scoring position. The Panthers had one hit compared to the Blue Tigers' zero.
• The loss is Drury's fourth straight split of a doubleheader.
• Drury is now 1-3 in the second game of doubleheaders this season.

 
UP NEXT
Drury returns to Thompson Field on Wednesday, March 18, for a doubleheader against Emporia State, starting at 1 pm.
 
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