https://drurypanthers.com/rss.aspx?full=trueLatest news items for Drury University Athleticsen-us60https://drurypanthers.com/news/2026/5/14/general-drury-wins-2025-26-glvc-commissioners-cup.aspxhttps://drurypanthers.com/news/2026/5/14/general-drury-wins-2025-26-glvc-commissioners-cup.aspxGeneral

INDIANAPOLIS — Drury University capped a banner 2025-26 academic year by claiming its third Great Lakes Valley Conference Commissioner's Cup, the league office announced Thursday.
 
The Panthers earned the prestigious honor for the second time in the last five years by posting the strongest finish in the league's eight sports that all 15 conference members sponsor at the intercollegiate level. Points are allocated for the Commissioner's Cup based on the athletic department's finish in the GLVC's postseason tournaments and league standings in baseball, men's and women's basketball, men's and women's soccer, softball and men's and women's indoor and outdoor track and field.
 
Drury qualified for the GLVC Championship Tournament in all eight sports this year, highlighted by a league title in women's soccer and a runner-up finish in men's basketball. This year marks the second time under current Vice President and Director of Athletics Nyla Milleson the Panthers and Lady Panthers have been recognized as the Commissioner's Cup winners, with DU claiming the same honor in 2021-22.
 
Drury's also captured the GLVC Commissioner's Cup in 2014-15.

"This is a tremendous honor and it speaks to the caliber of individuals we have on our campus," Milleson stated. "I'm proud of the work of our student-athletes, coaches and administrators and thankful for the relentless effort they've invested in upholding the standards of excellence and championship tradition that define Drury. We look forward to even bigger things in 2026-27."

Drury earned 83.5 points over the course of the academic year, besting runner-up McKendree (81.5) by two points. Maryville finished third with 72.5 points, while Indianapolis tallied 69 points in fourth, and Missouri S&T and UMSL tied for fifth with 66.5 points apiece.

Rockhurst finished a close seventh with 66 points, with Lewis placing eighth with 54 points. Rounding out the back half of the standings were Quincy (47.5), Illinois Springfield (46.5), Southwest Baptist (39), Truman State (39), Lincoln (36.5), William Jewell (35.25) and Upper Iowa (31.25).
 
2025-26 GLVC Commissioner's Cup Standings
1.           Drury (83.5)
2.           McKendree (81.5)
3.           Maryville (72.5)              
4.           Indianapolis (69)
5.           Missouri S&T (66.5)
              UMSL (66.5)
7.           Rockhurst (66)
8.           Lewis (54)
9.           Quincy (47.5)
10.         Illinois Springfield (46.5)
11.         Southwest Baptist (39)
              Truman State (39)     
13.         Lincoln (36.5)
14.         William Jewell (35.25)
15.         Upper Iowa (31.25)

FOLLOW THE PANTHERS
For all the latest information on Drury athletics, please visit drurypanthers.com. For up-to-the-minute updates, follow the Panthers on Instagram, X, and Facebook.
 

#OneDrury

]]>Commissioner's CupThu, 14 May 2026 11:40:00 CST216633https://drurypanthers.com/news/2026/5/13/gooch-named-drury-mens-basketball-assistant-coach.aspxhttps://drurypanthers.com/news/2026/5/13/gooch-named-drury-mens-basketball-assistant-coach.aspxMen's Basketball

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — Drury men's basketball head coach Chris Foster has announced the addition of Brendon Gooch to the Panthers coaching staff as an assistant coach for the 2026-27 season.

Gooch arrives at Drury after spending the past two seasons as an assistant coach on the men's basketball staff of fellow Great Lakes Valley Conference member Quincy. With the Hawks, he contributed to Quincy's scouting and game-planning efforts while leading skill development coaching the Hawks' guards. His work helped QU rank second among all GLVC clubs in assists per game in 2024-25. He also assisted with Quincy's recruitment and development of several all-conference performers during his tenure.
 
Prior to his time in Quincy, Gooch spent the 2023-24 campaign as an assistant with another league foe, Illinois Springfield. In his one season with the Prairie Stars, he helped UIS to 18 wins, which ranks as the program's second-best season total as an NCAA Division II program. He worked with the UIS guards, who combined to post the No. 2 three-point field goal percentage in the nation that year.
 
"We are excited to add Brendon to our coaching staff," Foster stated. "I was fortunate to have coached him during his collegiate career, and his work ethic and leadership have always stood out. I'm confident those same qualities will have an immediate impact on our student-athletes and help us elevate our program as we compete for championships at Drury."

Gooch embarked on a career in coaching following a standout collegiate and professional playing career. He played three seasons at the NCAA Division I level for Southern Illinois (2017-20), before completing his collegiate career at McKendree (2020-22), where he played under Foster during the 2020-21 season. Gooch was a team captain for the Bearcats and earned Second-Team All-GLVC honors in his first season at McKendree.

Gooch also played professionally in Ireland, where he was a member of the Drogheda Wolves Basketball National Team in 2022-23.

"I am grateful and excited for the chance to join this staff," Gooch said. "Having played for Coach Foster, I've seen first-hand the standard and culture he brings to the program every day. It's special to now be on the coaching side and support that vision and be a part of the great tradition here at Drury."
 
A native of Belleville, Ill., Gooch earned his bachelor's degree from SIU in 2020, before completing an MBA from McKendree.
 
At Drury, Gooch will join a coaching staff led by Foster, who enters his sixth season at the helm this fall, alongside assistant coach Sam Briscoe, who completed his first year as a full-time assistant at DU this spring.

Drury concluded the 2025-26 season with a 17-14 record as the GLVC Tournament runner-up.

FOLLOW THE PANTHERS
For all the latest information on Drury men's basketball, visit DruryPanthers.com. For up-to-the-minute updates, follow the Panthers on X and Instagram.
 

#OneDrury

]]>GoochWed, 13 May 2026 12:00:00 CST416632https://drurypanthers.com/news/2026/5/12/mens-tennis-six-drury-tennis-players-earn-csc-academic-all-district-honors.aspxhttps://drurypanthers.com/news/2026/5/12/mens-tennis-six-drury-tennis-players-earn-csc-academic-all-district-honors.aspxMen's Tennis, Women's Tennis

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – The College Sports Communicators (CSC) announced its 2026 Men's and Women's Tennis Academic All-District selections on May 12. Drury had two men's tennis players and four women's players honored.
 
To be eligible for this honor, players must have a cumulative grade point average of 3.5 and achieve success on the court throughout the season. Student-athletes must also be at least a sophomore academically and athletically.
 
Matthieu Gachon earned the honor for the first time in his career. The junior from France went 13-4 in singles play this season and 6-4 in doubles. Gachon also earned all-GLVC honors. Gachon is studying Finance.
 
Marco Romano is studying Business Economics. In Romano's first season in Springfield, after transferring from Washburn, he went 8-6 in singles and 7-9 in doubles.
 
Earning the honor for the third time was Leana Chanove. The senior from France is studying Finance. The three-time all-GLVC selection went 11-5 in singles and 9-4 in doubles this season.
 
Antanina Novik was selected for the first time in her career. Novik, a junior from Belarus, was 7-8 in singles and 7-9 in doubles this season. Novik is studying Psychology.
 
In her sophomore season, Ana Luisa Sathler Rosa was named to the team. Sathler Rosa was 6-7 in singles this season with a 6-9 doubles record. The Brazilian is studying Management and Marketing.
 
Franca Piaggi earned the honor for the first time in her career. Piaggi, the junior from Peru, is studying Architecture. Piaggi was 12-2 in singles this season, winning her last four matches, and 10-3 in doubles.
 
The season ended for the men's program at the national tournament against Ferris State and for the women's program in the GLVC Tournament.
 
FOLLOW THE PANTHERS
For all the latest information on Drury athletics, please visit drurypanthers.com. For up-to-the-minute updates, follow the Panthers on Facebook, Instagram and X.

#WonDrury

]]>tennisacademicall-district2026Tue, 12 May 2026 11:33:00 CST916631https://drurypanthers.com/news/2026/5/11/womens-golf-blackwell-selected-to-lead-drury-womens-golf-program.aspxhttps://drurypanthers.com/news/2026/5/11/womens-golf-blackwell-selected-to-lead-drury-womens-golf-program.aspxWomen's Golf

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Drury University has selected Susannah Blackwell as its new women's golf head coach, Vice President and Director of Athletics Nyla Milleson announced Monday.
 
Blackwell spent the 2025-26 season as an assistant coach for the Panthers, helping guide regional qualifier Grace Stafford and a squad that finished seventh at the GLVC Championship in April.
 
"We're excited to have Susannah at Drury," Milleson said. "She has the support of Coach (Faith) Hopkins and has shown she can uphold the standard of our women's golf program."
 
A Springfield native, Blackwell attended Glendale High School, where she helped the Falcons to third- and fourth-place finishes at the MSHSAA State Championships and three straight Ozark Conference team titles. She also captured the 2020 Ozark Conference individual championship during her senior season.
 
She went on to compete collegiately at Evangel University, emerging as one of the top golfers in the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference (KCAC). Her career included two All-KCAC selections, a third-place finish at the 2025 KCAC Women's Golf Championship, and academic honors as a CSC Academic All-District selection and NAIA Spring Sport Scholar-Athlete in 2025.
 
Blackwell played under her predecessor, Faith Hopkins, during her time at Evangel.
 
"I am excited to be joining the Drury family," Blackwell said. "I am grateful for the mentorship of Coach Hopkins. We've got a great group of talented ladies, and I'm excited to see what we can achieve."
 
Blackwell earned her degree in sport management from Evangel in 2025.
 
FOLLOW THE PANTHERS
For up-to-the-minute updates, follow the Panthers on drurypanthers.com. For all the latest information on Drury athletics, please visit Instagram and X.

#OneDrury

]]>blackwellhiredwebMon, 11 May 2026 12:20:00 CST1216629https://drurypanthers.com/news/2026/5/11/mens-tennis-panthers-season-ends-to-ferris-state-in-national-tournament.aspxhttps://drurypanthers.com/news/2026/5/11/mens-tennis-panthers-season-ends-to-ferris-state-in-national-tournament.aspxMen's Tennis

BIG RAPIDS, Mich. – Drury's season came to an end following a 4-1 loss to Ferris State in the Midwest Regional Two Semifinals on Monday morning in Michigan.
 

• Ferris State jumped out to a 1-0 lead after winning the doubles point. The Bulldogs won the first and third lines.
• Drury's Matthieu Gachon and Chuy Gonzalez were able to win the second doubles line 6-4.
• The Bulldogs extended their lead on the fourth singles line.
• Drury took their only point of the match on the third singles line. After dropping the first set, Marco Romano won the final two sets to get the win.
• Ferris clinched the match after wins on the sixth and second singles lines.
• The win for Ferris was their first win over Drury in the national tournament in program history, 4-1.
• The season ends for Drury after making the national tournament for the fourth straight season.
• All-time in the national tournament, Drury falls to 54-27.

 
The Panthers season comes to an end with a 13-7 record and a GLVC West Division Title.
 
FOLLOW THE PANTHERS
For all the latest information on Drury athletics, please visit drurypanthers.com. For up-to-the-minute updates, follow the Panthers on Facebook, Instagram and X.

#OneDrury

]]>marcorockhurst1Mon, 11 May 2026 13:25:00 CST916630https://drurypanthers.com/news/2026/5/10/mens-golf-lewis-bostrom-fall-short-of-national-championship-berth-at-midwest-regional.aspxhttps://drurypanthers.com/news/2026/5/10/mens-golf-lewis-bostrom-fall-short-of-national-championship-berth-at-midwest-regional.aspxMen's Golf

BIG RAPIDS, Mich. – Gaige Lewis and Ellton Bostrom both had a third-round push to advance to the NCAA Division II National Championship, but it was too late as both individuals ended their season in the Midwest/Central Super Regional at Katke Golf Course on the campus of Ferris State.
 
The three-round tournament was played in a single round a day, starting on Thursday and ending on Saturday. The par-72 course played 6,967 yards in distance per round.
 
Four teams advanced to the national championship: Grand Valley State (+3), Missouri-St. Louis (+8), Central Missouri (+9), and Washburn (+15) after finishing in the top four of the region.
 
The individual champion was Central Missouri's CJ Phillips (-5), even after a third round that saw him shoot five over par. Cooper Scheck of Fort Hays State advanced to the national championship following a two-under par performance to finish third. Winona State's Peyton Coahran will be joining Scheck at the national championship following a one-under tournament.
 
Gaige Lewis finished tied for tenth after shooting four under par in the third round to jump 28 spots in the final round. Lewis' round totals improved each round, shooting 75, 74, and ending with a 68. Lewis's tournament was headlined by 11 birdies, six in the third round, and one eagle on the par-five third hole in the second round.
 
Ellton Bostrom finished tied for 25th, shooting one under par in the final round to jump 13 spots in the third round. Bostrom shot a 73 in the first round with an eagle on the seventh hole and followed it with a 76 in the second round. The third round, 71, was Bostrom's best round of the weekend. In the final round, Bostrom totaled six birdies. In total, he had ten birdies over the three rounds.
 
FOLLOW THE PANTHERS
For all the latest information on Drury athletics, please visit drurypanthers.com. For up-to-the-minute updates, follow the Panthers on Instagram and X.

#OneDrury

]]>lewisncaastorySun, 10 May 2026 12:48:00 CST616627https://drurypanthers.com/news/2026/5/9/softball-adzick-nimeczyk-earn-glvc-all-tournament-team-honors.aspxhttps://drurypanthers.com/news/2026/5/9/softball-adzick-nimeczyk-earn-glvc-all-tournament-team-honors.aspxSoftball

EAST PEORIA, Ill. – Following the 2026 Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) Softball Tournament, the league announced the all-tournament team with two Drury players earning the honor.
 
Drury senior, Kaley Adzick, was named to the team. At the plate during the tournament, Adzick hit .333 with five RBIs and one double. Adzick also scored a run with a sac bunt throughout Drury's four games. She also had one appearance in the circle, where she was a reliever in the final game of the tournament for Drury. Adzick pitched the final three innings, allowing a single hit and striking out three batters.
 
Emma Niemczyk was named to the all-tournament team in her freshman season. Niemczyk hit .467 with seven hits, one home run, six runs scored, and two stolen bases. In games against Missouri-St. Louis and Missouri S&T, Niemczyk had three hits with the Panthers on the brink of elimination. In the opening round game against Indianapolis, Niemczyk hit a solo home run in her first career postseason at-bat.
 
The Panthers' season ended against Indianapolis on Friday with a 7-2 loss. Drury went 2-2 in the conference tournament for the second consecutive season.
 
FOLLOW THE PANTHERS
For all the latest information on Drury athletics, please visit drurypanthers.com. For up-to-the-minute updates, follow the Panthers on X, Facebook, and Instagram.

#WonDrury

]]>adzickglvctournamentSat, 9 May 2026 14:47:00 CST1416625https://drurypanthers.com/news/2026/5/8/softball-drury-eliminated-by-indianapolis-in-glvc-tournament.aspxhttps://drurypanthers.com/news/2026/5/8/softball-drury-eliminated-by-indianapolis-in-glvc-tournament.aspxSoftball

EAST PEORIA, Ill. – Drury's postseason run came to an end Friday afternoon as the Panthers fell to top-seeded and nationally ranked No. 2 Indianapolis, 7-2, in the Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) Tournament amid rainy conditions.
 
After a scoreless opening inning and a half, Indianapolis broke through in the bottom of the second. The Greyhounds loaded the bases on two singles and a walk before a 14-minute weather delay temporarily halted play. Following the delay, Sydney Oliver drew a bases-loaded walk to bring home the game's first run. Drury nearly escaped the inning on a potential double play, but Indianapolis was able to score another run on the play while recording the out. Cara Cooper followed with a two-run single to extend the Greyhound lead to 4-0.
 
Drury threatened in the top of the third with a pair of hits, including a double from Claire Nelson, but the Panthers were thrown out at the plate attempting to score from first base.
 
Indianapolis added two more runs in the bottom of the third on a two-run single from Oliver to take a 6-0 advantage.
 
The Panthers answered in the fourth inning. Kaley Adzick singled before Isabel Ervin reached on an error. Reece Anderson moved both runners into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt, setting the stage for Gabrielle Bax. After battling through an eight-pitch at-bat and fouling off five pitches, Bax delivered a two-run double to left-center to score Drury's only runs of the game.
 
Cooper recorded her second of three doubles in the bottom of the fourth and later scored on an RBI single from Cheyenne Eads to push the Indianapolis lead to 7-2.
 
The Greyhounds threatened again in the sixth inning with the bases loaded and no outs, but Adzick worked out of the jam without allowing a run.
 
Facing GLVC Pitcher and Freshman of the Year Caitlin Bunte in the seventh inning, the Panthers were unable to mount a comeback as Indianapolis secured the 7-2 victory.
 
GAME NOTES

• Indianapolis outhit Drury nine to six in the elimination game.
• The Greyhounds were led by Cara Cooper with four hits, three doubles. Maya Rodriguez had two hits for Indianapolis.
• Emma Piercy drew three walks for Indianapolis.
• Kelsey Palmer and Gabrielle Bax each had two hits to lead Drury.
• Bax had both RBIs for Drury.
• Jordyn Foley was the starting pitcher for Drury in the game. She went three innings allowing all seven runs and striking out two batters.
• Kaley Adzick threw the final three innings. Adzick struck out three batters allowing just one run.
• Cheyenne Eads was the winning pitcher for Indianapolis. Eads went four innings allowing two runs (one earned) and struck out three batters.
• Caitlin Bunte closed the door for the Greyhounds in the final three innings just giving up one hit.
• With runners in scoring position, Drury only had one hit out of the six chances. Indianapolis had three hits in 14 chances.

 
SEASON NOTES

• Drury concluded the 2026 season with a 27-29 overall record and a 14-13 mark in Great Lakes Valley Conference play. The season marked the program's seventh straight non-COVID campaign with at least 25 wins, including three under head coach Brooke Gajewski.
• The Panthers reached the GLVC Tournament for the seventh consecutive season. Drury also won at least two games in the conference tournament for just the third time in program history, with two of those occurrences coming in the last two seasons.
• Drury earned two All-GLVC selections this season in Jordyn Foley and Kaley Adzick. The honors marked the ninth and 10th all-conference selections during Gajewski's tenure.
• Foley earned Drury's lone weekly conference honor of the season after being named GLVC Pitcher of the Week. She threw the seventh no-hitter in program history against Quincy while recording a career-high 11 strikeouts.
• Four Panthers were named to the NFCA Top Performers of the Week Team during the season. Landry Cochran earned the recognition twice, while Claire Nelson, Emma Niemczyk, and Jordyn Foley each received the honor once.
• Gajewski surpassed 100 career wins this season following Drury's victory over St. Edward's in February. She now owns 124 career victories, including 92 at Drury, and continues to hold the highest winning percentage in program history at .548.
• Kaley Adzick concluded her standout career with two all-conference selections while surpassing 100 career hits, 300 innings pitched, 200 strikeouts, and 30 victories. She finished with a 2.75 career ERA, the sixth-best in program history, along with 22 wins and 180 strikeouts as a Panther, ranking seventh and eighth all-time, respectively. Her 2.00 ERA this season ranks as the fifth-best single-season mark in program history.
• Reece Anderson moved into fourth place in career assists with 330 and reset her own single-season program record with 170 assists after previously setting the mark at 160.
• Gabrielle Bax finished her career with 229 assists, seventh-most in program history. Her 142 assists this season rank fifth in a single season at Drury.
• Jordyn Foley completed her second season with the Panthers by recording 15 wins in the circle, tied for the fifth-most in a single season in program history. Foley also moved into fifth all-time in career wins with 25 and surpassed 100 career strikeouts this season.
• Landry Cochran totaled six triples this season, tied for the second-most in a single season in program history. She now has eight career triples, ranking fourth all-time.
• Freshman Emma Niemczyk recorded 54 hits, the second-most by a freshman in program history. She also scored 43 runs, tied for the sixth-highest single-season total in program history.
• Avery Budde posted a 12-game hitting streak during the season, tied for the eighth-longest streak in program history.
• As a team, the Panthers set a new single-season program record with 32 double plays turned, surpassing the previous mark of 23 set in 2010.
• Drury also established several single-game records during the season, including most double plays turned in a game with four against Southwest Baptist. Emma Niemczyk and Claire Nelson each recorded four hits in a game, while Kaley Adzick's 13 strikeouts against Quincy ranked among the top five single-game totals in program history.
• The Panthers finished 3-8 against nationally ranked top-25 opponents, including two victories over top-20 teams.
• Drury recorded four walk-off victories during the season, including two from Isabel Ervin and one each from Reece Anderson and Gabrielle Bax.

 
UP NEXT
The GLVC will announce the 2026 All-Tournament team following the championship game on Saturday.
 
FOLLOW THE PANTHERS
For all the latest information on Drury athletics, please visit drurypanthers.com. For up-to-the-minute updates, follow the Panthers on X, Facebook, and Instagram.

#OneDrury

]]>brayntglvcFri, 8 May 2026 17:33:00 CST1416624https://drurypanthers.com/news/2026/5/7/softball-panthers-knock-off-umsl-ands-t-to-advance-in-glvc-tournament.aspxhttps://drurypanthers.com/news/2026/5/7/softball-panthers-knock-off-umsl-ands-t-to-advance-in-glvc-tournament.aspxSoftball

EAST PEORIA, Ill. – Eighth-seeded Drury eliminated (4) Missouri-St. Louis and (2) Missouri S&T to advance to the final four of the GLVC Tournament on Thursday in East Peoria.
 
GAME ONE – (8) Drury 6, (4) Missouri-St. Louis 2
Facing elimination, Drury and Missouri-St. Louis' pitching was shut down in the first three innings, only allowing a combined four hits.
 
Into the fourth inning, Drury put two runners in scoring position with one out after an error, a walk, and a passed ball from the Tritons. Kaley Adzick led down the squeeze bunt to score Mykala Dodds and give Drury a 1-0 advantage. The offense did not stop at the bunt; Haley Bryant scored from third on an error by the UMSL third baseman to extend the lead to two runs.
 
The Tritons responded to the two-run deficit with two of their own in the bottom of the fourth. Following a leadoff error, Kiley Sullivan homered to right-center to knot the game. UMSL loaded the bases later in the inning, but Jordyn Foley worked out of it and ended the inning with a strikeout.
 
Drury regained control in the fifth inning with a three-spot. A leadoff single and back-to-back errors from UMSL put Emma Niemczyk on third and Kelsey Palmer on second. Both would score two pitches later off a Claire Nelson double. Nelson was run for by Jordan Meng. Meng stole third before being driven in by Kaley Adzick to take a 5-2 Panther lead.
 
UMSL loaded the bases once more in the bottom of the fifth, but Foley and the Drury defense were able to avoid disaster and leave three stranded in the inning.
 
The Panthers added to their run total for the third straight inning in the sixth. After Emma Niemczyk struck out but advanced to first on a passed ball, she stole second to bring up Landry Cochran. She recorded an infield single that allowed Niemczyk to score from second and give Drury a 6-2 lead.
 
UMSL had two runners on base with two outs in the bottom of the seventh, but a groundout ended the game and the season for the Tritons, 6-2.
 
GAME ONE NOTES

• UMSL outhit Drury eight to seven.
• Emma Niemczyk was the only Panther with multiple hits, recording three. She also scored two runs.
• Kiley Sullivan had three hits, including a home run, to lead the Tritons.
• UMSL went through three pitchers. Kenzie Stoltz was the starter and losing pitcher. She allowed five runs, only one earned, while striking out six batters. Ashley Ware and Ashley Borowitz also pitched for the Tritons.
• Jordyn Foley threw another complete game in the win. Foley struck out four batters. Only one of the two runs that Foley scored was earned.
• Drury turned their 32nd double play of the season.
• Reece Anderson broke the Drury single-season assist record with five assists against UMSL. The previous record was set by Anderson last season with 160. After the UMSL game, she had recorded 164 assists.
• It was Drury's first win against UMSL this season.

 
GAME TWO – (8) Drury 11, (2) Missouri S&T 3 (6 inn.)
Coming directly off a loss, Missouri S&T wanted to get back into its offensive rhythm, and they did just that in the first inning. The Miners punched first with a Molly Fitzgerald single to score Taylor Nelson from second.
 
The S&T lead did not last long. In the bottom of the first, Emma Niemczyk and Landry Cochran went back-to-back singles to bring Kelsey Palmer to the plate. Palmer followed suit with the third straight Drury single to score Niemczyk and tie the game at one.
 
The Miners loaded the bases with one out at the top of the third with Tori Thompson at the plate. Thompson singled to left field, but S&T was only able to score one run. Jordyn Foley struck out the next two batters to avoid a larger deficit.
 
Similar to the first inning, Drury responded immediately to the S&T lead. The Panthers loaded the bases without an out for Claire Nelson to record a sac fly and bring in Niemczyk. The inning continued with a sac bunt from Haley Bryant to score Cochran, an RBI single from Kaley Adzick, and an RBI single from Isabel Ervin for Drury to take a 5-2 lead.
 
The Drury offense kept piling runs on S&T in the fourth. Niemczyk and Cochran got back-to-back hits again to bring Palmer to the plate. Palmer would drive in Niemczyk and Cochran off an RBI double to extend the Panther lead to 7-2.
 
Trailing 7-2, the Miners chipped away at the Drury lead in the top of the seventh on an inside-the-park home run from Claire Lopez.
 
The Panthers put the exclamation point on their offensive explosion with four runs on three hits in the bottom of the sixth inning to secure the run-rule victory, 11-3, over Missouri S&T.
 
GAME TWO NOTES

• Drury recorded 13 hits in the game compared to Missouri S&T's eight.
• Eight of the 13 hits came from the top three in the Drury lineup: Emma Niemczyk (3), Landry Cochran (3), and Kelsey Palmer (2).
• Kaley Adzick and Isabel Ervin each also recorded two hits.
• Palmer drove in a career high four RBIs.
• Landry Cochran's triple to lead off the sixth inning was her sixth of the season, now the second most in a season in program history. It was the eighth triple of her career, the fourth most in program history.
• With six hits combined between both games, Emma Niemczyk now has 54 hits this season. She is now four hits away from tying the single-season freshman hits record.
• Molly Fitzgerald was the lone Miner who had at least two hits.
• Jordyn Foley was the winning pitcher after her third complete game of the week. Foley struck out ten in the process of the win.
• With the win, Foley won her 15th game of the season. She is now tied for fifth for the most in a single season in program history. She is also fifth in career win total with 25.
• Mia Miller was the losing pitcher for the Miners. Miller allowed five runs, only two earned, and struck out two batters.
• Reece Anderson extended her single-season assist record to 167.
• Four of Drury's six lead-off hitters reached base in the win against S&T.
• Isabel Ervin hit the walk-off to secure the run-rule for Drury. It was Ervin's second walk-off of the season (Feb. 7 vs. St. Edward's) and the team's third of the season.
• Drury has now won two run-rule games this season.
• The win was Drury's first against Missouri S&T in the GLVC Tournament.
• With the win, Drury is the first eight-seed to be one of the final four teams in the tournament since Missouri S&T did it in 2018. In 2018, the Miners dropped to a three-seed Indianapolis 9-5 in the first game of Friday to be eliminated.
• Drury has won at least two games in the GLVC Tournament for the third time in program history and in back-to-back seasons for the first time in program history.

 
QUOTABLE
"I saw a bunch of grit in our girls today," coach Brooke Gajewski commented postgame. " I think Jordyn has been great, and having Kaley ready to go is a great 1-2 punch."
 
"I think the timely hitting for the entire team has been great recently," Drury freshman Emma Niemczyk noted. "It is great to move to second all-time, but we still have work to do. I am only worried about winning."
 
"I feel like we are playing free," Jordyn Foley mentioned. "This is the best time to perform, and I think the entire team is stepping up."
 
UP NEXT
Drury is scheduled for a rematch with top-seeded Indianapolis in an elimination game on Friday at 11 am. The winner will advance to play the loser of the Rockhurst and McKendree game at 1:30 pm.
 
FOLLOW THE PANTHERS
For all the latest information on Drury athletics, please visit drurypanthers.com. For up-to-the-minute updates, follow the Panthers on X, Facebook, and Instagram.

#WonDrury

]]>postumslglvcdubThu, 7 May 2026 21:24:00 CST1416623https://drurypanthers.com/news/2026/5/7/baseball-uindy-ends-panthers-glvc-tournament-bid-with-9-2-decision.aspxhttps://drurypanthers.com/news/2026/5/7/baseball-uindy-ends-panthers-glvc-tournament-bid-with-9-2-decision.aspxBaseball

MARION, Ill. — Indianapolis scored six times over the first two innings and rode a complete-game effort from starting pitcher Ryan O'Born to a 12-2 win over Drury in seven innings, ending the Panthers' quest for their fourth Great Lakes Valley Conference Baseball Championship title Thursday evening at Mtn Dew Park. 

O'Born (7-2) limited the fourth-seeded Panthers to two runs on seven hits over his 7.0 innings, holding Drury hitless through the first two innings. He allowed single tallies in the third and fourth innings, but avoided major damage in each instance and cruised to the seventh, when the No. 3 Greyhounds put the game away with a four-run rally to invoke the 10-run rule.

The Greyhounds (33-20) pounced on Drury early, striking for four runs in the first inning after four of their first six hitters drew walks. UIndy also cashed in on a Panther error and the first of Garrett Rusch's three hits to put Drury in an early four-run hole.

UIndy added to its lead with two more runs in the second on back-to-back RBI-singles from Brayton Bowen and Luke Smock to build a 6-0 lead.

Drury (32-21) broke through against O'Born with its first three hits of the game, starting with Xander Schmitt's leadoff single. Base hits by Colin McClure and Luke Matschiner loaded the bases, and Jackson Crider put the Panthers on the board with a sacrifice fly to right. Matschiner then swiped second for his 34th steal of the year, breaking the Panthers' single-season mark for stolen bases, previously held by Nick Thimesch (2014).

Following a leadoff infield hit from Greydon Miller in the fourth, Schmitt drove an RBI-triple into the gap in left-center to chase home what would prove to be the final Drury run of the night.

UIndy added a single run in the third and another in the sixth, before erupting for four runs in the seventh -- the final three coming on Smock's bases-loaded triple -- to seal the victory.

Schmitt led the Drury offense, matching a career high with three hits in three trips to the plate.

Smock drove in five runs and was one of three Greyhounds to log three-hit performances, along with Rusch and Gavin Duran.

UIndy advances to face the loser of Friday afternoon's semifinal matchup featuring No. 1 Missouri S&T against No. 2 UMSL.

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

#OneDrury

]]>SchmittThu, 7 May 2026 21:45:00 CST316622