Crider
Josh Clark, Drury Sports Communications
6
Rockhurst RU 28-16, 16-12 GLVC
9
Winner Drury DU 29-17, 20-8 GLVC
Rockhurst RU
28-16, 16-12 GLVC
6
Final
9
Drury DU
29-17, 20-8 GLVC
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Rockhurst RU 1 0 1 0 2 1 1 0 0 6 10 1
Drury DU 2 1 0 2 0 3 1 0 X 9 11 1

W: Linton, Hayden (1-1) L: Trent Clemons (2-3) S: Panagos, Nick (1)

Game Recap: Baseball | | Eric Doennig, Associate AD - Media Relations

Crider's Four-Hit Day Propels Panthers to Series Win Over Rockhurst

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — Behind a four-hit day from Jackson Crider and a record-tying performance by Connor Bain, Drury baseball notched its third-straight victory over Rockhurst to clinch a key Great Lakes Valley Conference series win with a 9-6 decision over the Hawks Sunday afternoon on Mark Worley Field at Meador Park.

Crider delivered his first four-hit game of the season, finishing 4-for-5 with a pair of runs batted-in, while Bain drove in two runs as well to match the Drury single-season record for RBIs. Each of Crider's four hits contributed to a Panthers scoring rally, and Drury turned the momentum for good with a three-run sixth inning that snapped a 5-5 tie.

Additionally, Logan Reidelberger posted his third multi-hit effort of the weekend, going 2-for-4 with two RBIs to help the Panthers claim a three-games-to-one series victory. Bain, Crider and Reidelberger -- each of whom were honored as part of Drury's Senior Day festivities prior to Sunday's first pitch -- combined to hit .564 (22-of-39) with 18 RBIs over the four-game series.

Drury (29-17, 20-8 GLVC), which put 14 runs on the scoreboard in the nightcap of a Saturday doubleheader sweep of the Hawks, relied on its offense once again in the series finale, scoring in five of the first seven innings. After the Hawks grabbed a 1-0 lead on a Dakota Hanna RBI-single in the top of the first, the Panthers struck back with a two-run rally in their half of the first, using back-to-back hits from Crider and Reidelberger to plate their first run of the day. Bain then lofted a sacrifice fly to right, bringing in Crider for a 2-1 DU lead.

Landon Willbrand's one-out single drove home another Panthers run in the second, and -- following an Avery Garmon run-producing hit for Rockhurst in the third -- the tandem of Crider and Reidelberger delivered again in a two-run DU fourth inning that put the home club in front by three runs. A one-out walk and a hit batsman put a pair of Panthers on base, before Crider smashed a two-out single to center to bring home the first DU baserunner, and Reidelberger followed with an RBI-single to right for a 5-2 advantage.

Rockhurst (28-16, 16-12 GLVC) cashed in on a two-out throwing error by Drury to scratch out two unearned runs in the fifth, then pushed the tying run across the plate on Afton Koch's one-out single in the sixth.

But the Drury offense responded immediately in the home half of the sixth, with Crider once again leading the charge. He opened the rally with a leadoff single to left, then moved into scoring position on a wild pitch, setting up Bain's go-ahead double down the left-field line that moved the senior outfielder into a tie with Luke Tewes for the top spot on Drury's single-season RBI chart with 62.

Two batters later, the Panthers added to their lead on Xander Schmitt's fifth home run of the season -- a two-run shot to left that gave DU an 8-5 cushion.

Following a Tyler Strongman solo shot for Rockhurst in the seventh, Crider capped his day with a run-scoring single after Colin McClure drew his third walk of the game to lead off the bottom half of the inning.

From that point, Drury reliever Nick Panagos shut down the Rockhurst lineup, tossing 2.0 hitless innings to lock up the victory and his first save as a Panther. Hayden Linton (1-1) earned his first collegiate win for Drury after striking out a pair of Hawks in his one inning of relief. 

Carter Wambach complemented the DU offense with a 2-for-5 afternoon, while McClure and Luke Matschiner each scored a pair of runs, combining to draw four walks and a pair of hit-by-pitches.


LOOKING AHEAD
Drury will open its final regular-season GLVC series of 2026 Thursday (April 30) evening with a 5 p.m. game against Southwest Baptist in Bolivar.

For all the latest information on Drury baseball, visit DruryPanthers.com. For up-to-the-minute updates, follow the Panthers on X and Instagram.

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