KIRKSVILLE, MO – The Drury Panthers were able to rally in the top of the seventh of game two and down the Truman State Softball team 8-7 while taking the first game 10-5 in a Great Lakes Valley Conference doubleheader on Saturday.
The Bulldogs will host Missouri Western in a non-conference twinbill on Wednesday at noon. That is a change from an originally published schedule.
Game 1: Drury 10, Truman 5
After two scoreless innings, the bulk of the game's scoring took place in the third. Drury sent 13 hitters to the plate, pounded out six hits and scored eight times to take the early lead.
The Bulldogs answered right back with five of their own in the bottom of the third. After an infield single was erased on a close play at second base on an attempted steal,
Emma Walbert drew a walk and
Kayla Quanstrum singled to left field.
Cameryn Patterson was hit by a pitch to load the bases.
Brieanna Klein coaxed a walk for the first run then
Maria McGonegle doubled to right center bringing Patterson and Quanstrum in.
Ellie Weltha singled to left center to plate two more runs and the Bulldogs trailed 8-5.
It would remain that way until the sixth when Rylee Kolb hit a lead-off solo home run to left field. They would add an unearned run in the seventh to double up the Bulldogs 10-5.
Game 2: Drury 8, Truman 7
A chopper that just eluded the glove of
Ellie Weltha at third base allowed the go-ahead run to score as the Panthers scored twice in the seventh inning to take the nightcap 8-7.
A double-steal gave Drury the 1-0 lead in the first when Abby Tiemann raced in on a delayed double steal.
The Bulldogs tied the game in the second with
Emma Walbert working a bases loaded walk to score
Sydney Parkerson. Brieanna Klein belted her second home run of the season to put Truman on top 2-1 in the third.
Drury hit three doubles in the fourth inning and scored five times while leaving the bases loaded to go up 6-2.
Parkerson hit her first collegiate home run to lead off the bottom of the fourth and
Callie Unrein later followed with her second roundtripper of the season to cut the Drury lead to 6-4.
The Bulldogs took advantage of an one-out error in the bottom of the sixth to take a 7-6 lead. All of the damage was done with two outs as
Emma Walbert got things going with a single.
Kayla Quanstrum laced a ball to the gap in right center tying the game at six.
Cameryn Patterson slashed a ball through the left side of the infield and Quanstrum raced home from second to give the Bulldogs the lead. They would load the bases but could not push across any insurance runs.
Pinch hitter Reagan Hight began the rally for Drury with a shot up the middle for a single. Abby Tiemann placed a perfect bunt for a hit to put two on base. A groundout moved the runners into scoring position.
Gracie Thomas lined a ball to center field that brought the tying run in, on the relay, the Bulldogs appeared to get the trail runner at third base but obstruction was called by the umpire allowing the runner to stay at third. Lauren Beier hit the ball into the ground that bounced and tipped the top of the glove of
Ellie Weltha at third base allowing the go ahead run to score.
Callie Unrein was hit by a pitch with two outs but Walbert was called out on strikes to end the game.
