KIRKSVILLE, Mo. — Truman State turned in a pair of big innings at the plate to even its Great Lakes Valley Conference series with a 24-12 victory over Drury baseball on a weather-shortened Saturday afternoon at Bulldog Baseball Park.
The Bulldogs (10-25, 4-18 GLVC) scored a pair of quick runs against Drury starting pitcher Caden Crask-Weeks (0-3), then exploded for eight more runs following a two-hour weather delay to build a 10-0 first-inning lead. Truman sent 14 batters to the plate and recorded 10 hits, with six different Bulldogs registering a run-producing hit in the rally.
Reed Drabant delivered a two-run triple following the lightning delay, before Nick Steurer and Evan Davis each added a two-run double to punctuate the outburst.
Truman kept the pressure on the DU pitching staff with a three-run second inning as well. Steurer came through with his second run-scoring hit, and Oliver Degenhardt recorded the first two of his six RBIs on the day with a double to right-center for a 13-0 Bulldog advantage.
Drury put its first runs of the day on the board in the third, scoring six runs on seven hits to put a sizable dent in the Truman lead. Luke Matschiner opened the scoring fpr the Panthers with a two-run double, before Logan Reidelberger singled home a third run. Carter Wambach's base hit and a Bulldog error produced two more tallies, and Xander Schmitt's single brought home the sixth DU run of the inning to make it a 13-6 game.
But that's when the Bulldogs kicked their offense back into high gear, fueled by a pair of Gavin Schieffer home runs in the home half of the third. Following a Davis single to start the rally, Schieffer blasted a two-run shot to left field to open the scoring. With two out, Steurer drove in a run with his third straight hit and Degenhardt followed with another two-run double. Next, a walk and a hit-by-pitch loaded the bases for Schieffer, who launched a grand slam to right that stretched the margin to 16 runs.
The Panthers (21-15, 12-6 GLVC) scored four times in the fifth with the help of Schmitt's three-run homer, then added two runs in the sixth courtesy of sacrifice flies by Caleb Briggs and Zach Ericsson to complete the scoring.
Schmitt led the Panthers at the plate, finishing 2-for-3 with four RBIs, while Degenhardt went 4-for-5 to lead Truman's 21-hit attack.
LOOKING AHEAD
Due to inclement weather, game two of Saturday's scheduled doubleheader was postponed. Drury and Truman State will now conclude their series with a Sunday (April 12) twin bill, beginning with a seven-inning contest at 10 a.m., following by a nine-inning matchup to conclude the weekend.
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