OZARK, Mo.- Southwest Baptist scored a run in the top of ninth to defeat Drury 9-8 and win the Spring Catfight presented by Bank of Bolivar at the US Baseball Park in Ozark on Tuesday.
 
Clint Jack won the game for the Bearcats with a single to shallow right field that fell between three Drury players and Cody Massey, running on contact with two outs in the inning, scored from first base as the throw home was off-line. The Panthers were retired in order in the bottom of the ninth.
 
Alex Austin (0-1) took the loss in relief while Jay Kaufman (2-1) got the win for Southwest Baptist.
 
The Bearcats' win spoiled a Drury rally as the Panthers came from three runs down to tie the game in the eighth. Drury scored a run on a Caleb Essick ground ball that got the Panthers within two, 8-6. After a Ryan Colombo single, Shane Benes hit his second home run of the game and his sixth of the year with a drive well beyond the left field wall that tied the game at 8-8.
 
"Southwest Baptist did a good job working some walks and hit-by-pitches to capitalize when they had runners," said Drury head coach Scott Nasby. "We didn't do a good enough job throughout all nine innings of making sure we didn't give in on any pitch or any at-bats."
 
Colombo finished the game 3 for 5 with two runs scored. Benes went 2 for 3 and both his hits were home runs. He had four runs batted in to go with the two bombs.
 
Hunter Hisky was 3 for 4 with two doubles, a triple and three RBI's to lead the Bearcats.
 
Drury fell to 7-5 while Southwest Baptist improved to 10-6.
 
The Panthers play again on Thursday and Friday when they travel to Southern Indiana for a three-game, non-conference series. Game time on Thursday is at 5 p.m. in Evansville, Indiana. Friday's doubleheader starts at 1 p.m.  
 
 

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