Panthers pitching delivers two shutouts in sweep of McKendree

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Drury pitching delivered a pair of shutouts in a doubleheader sweep of McKendree on Sunday at Thompson Field in Springfield. The Panthers won the first game 2-0, then scored in the bottom of the seventh for a 1-0 victory to close out the day.
 
Drury improved to 28-11 and 14-2 in the Great Lakes Valley Conference. The Bearcats fell to 16-20 and 8-12 in the GLVC.
 
Kristina Bettis (17-2) fired a one-hit shutout in game one. The junior from Swansea, Illinois, allowed only a fourth-inning single, and the only walk she issued was to the game’s first batter. Bettis struck six batters as she earned her 17^th win of the year.
 
Drury took a 1-0 lead in the fourth inning on an RBI single by Rylee Kolb, then added an insurance run in the sixth. Lauren Beier, who singled to start the inning, scored from second base on a double-steal and throwing error by McKendree catcher Morgan Andrews.
 
In game two, Karsyn Smith (5-3) blanked the Bearcats on three hits. The senior from West Plains picked up the complete-game win allowing just one walk while striking out six. Smith completed the weekend going 14 innings without allowing an earned run.
 
The Panthers won the game on a walk-off single by Camryn BeDell. Drury got a one-out walk in the bottom of the seventh from Reagan Hight, who then advanced to second on a hit from Kailyne Luna. Pitch-runner Alyssa Moore scored the winning run as BeDell dropped a single into right-center field to end the game.
 
Drury is idle until April 16 when they travel to Truman State for a doubleheader starting at noon in Kirksville, Missouri.
 
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