Bettis strikes out a record 16 batters in DU split at UMSL

ST. LOUIS, Mo. – Drury starting pitcher Kristina Bettis set the team’s single-game strikeout record as the Panthers split a doubleheader at Missouri-St. Louis on Saturday in St. Louis. Drury won the first game 9-2 as Bettis struck out 16 batters, but the Tritons took the second game 7-4.
 
The Panthers moved their record to 24-9 and 10-2 in the Great Lakes Valley Conference. UMSL went to 20-13 and 9-5 in the league.
 
The Panthers won their 11^th straight game, and Bettis earned a win in her 10^th consecutive start in Drury’s 9-2 victory in game one of the doubleheader. Bettis improved to 15-1 as she fanned 16 while allowing three hits, two unearned runs and two walks. The junior from Swansea, Illinois, has not allowed an earned run in four straight games and 23.0 innings pitched.
 
Gracie Thomas went 3 for 4, she hit her fifth home run of the season, and drove in three runs. Sydney Sneed was 2 for 3 with a pair of RBIs, and she belted her second homer of the year.
 
Drury jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning of game two, but Missouri-St. Louis responded with two of their own in the bottom half of the inning to draw even. The Tritons grabbed a 5-4 lead with two runs in the fourth and added two in the sixth inning to put the game out of reach.
 
Abby Tiemann went 3 for 4 in the lead-off position for Drury but was left stranded three times and the Panthers left on eight runners in the loss.
 
Megan Brown homered twice in the game for Tritons and finished the game with four RBIs.
 
Mimi Bradley (5-2) got the win for UMSL, while Karsyn Smith (3-2) took the loss for the Panthers.
 
Drury returns to action on Sunday when they take on Lindenwood in a doubleheader starting at noon in St. Charles, Missouri.
 
 
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