Panthers open GLVC schedule on Sunday at home

SOFTBALL PREVIEW
Drury Panthers (12-12, 0-0)
vs. Truman St. (7-15, 0-0) – Sun., March 19, 1 pm (DH)
vs. William Jewell (4-12, 0-0) – Mon., March 20, 3 pm (DH)
Thompson Field at Meador Park
 
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Children 12 and under, Drury students with ID – FREE
 
SPRINGFIELD, Mo.– Drury opens their Great Lakes Valley Conference schedule with doubleheaders against Truman State and William Jewell. The Panthers will host Truman State on Sunday at 1 pm, then William Jewell on Monday at 3 pm at Thompson Field in Springfield. The doubleheader against the Cardinals was originally scheduled for Saturday but was postponed due to below-freezing temperatures.
 
The Panthers are 12-12 and are coming off a doubleheader sweep of Oklahoma Baptist, winning both games by a run as they took the first contest 1-0, then won game two, 3-2, in 9 innings. Drury has gone 6-3 at home so far this season.
 
Truman State is 7-15 and went 4-4 last week in The Spring Games in Orlando, Florida. Last Monday, the Bulldogs picked up a 13-1 win over Saint Michaels, then lost 12-8 to Alliance on their last day of the tournament. Drury is 9-14 all-time against Truman State but has won the last four games against the Bulldogs. The Panthers swept Truman State last year, winning 10-5 and 8-7 in Kirksville.
 
William Jewell is 4-12 and Monday’s doubleheader will be their GLVC opener. The Cardinals won two of three last weekend against Northern State in Liberty as they won the first game, 4-3, fell in game two of the series 3-1, but took the third game 1-0 last Monday. William Jewell has been idle since March 13. The Cardinals are coached by Dustin Combs, who was the head coach at Glendale HS in Springfield for seven seasons (2000-2006) and is now in his 17^th year at William Jewell. The Panthers are 13-14 all-time against the Cardinals and have won the last six meetings. Drury swept a doubleheader from Jewell last year, winning 8-1 and 11-3 in Liberty.
 
Following Monday’s doubleheader, the Panthers are back on the field on Wednesday when they travel to Emporia State for a doubleheader starting at 3 pm in Emporia, Kansas.
 
Diamond Notes
— Sophia Luetticke enters Sunday’s game with a nine-game hitting streak and is 18 for 30 (.600) during those nine games
— Luetticke’s .460 average ranks second in the GLVC
— Rylie Kolb also has a seven-game hitting streak but has not played in Feb. 19
— Kristina Bettis ranks third in the GLVC in strikeouts (93) and innings pitched (77.0)
 
Probable Starters
DU- Kristina Bettis (7-6, 3.16 ERA) & Lindsay Henson (1-2, 1.97 ERA)
TS- Breianna Klein (3-5, 4.00 ERA) & Annabel Zimmer (3-4, 3.69 ERA)
WJ- Aliyah Santiago (2-1, 1.77 ERA) & Sydney Parra (0-6, 5.61 ERA)
 
Head Coaches
DU- Jerry Breaux (6th year, 121-82 / 30th year, 881-504-2)
Tru- Ron Ferrill (1^st year, 7-15 / 13^th year, 328-228-1)
WJ- Dustin Combs (17^th year, 405-378)
 
Stat Leaders
DU- Sophia Luetticke (.460, .587 slugging, .487 OBP), Kailyne Luna (.324, .422 OBP, 7 RBI), Lauren Beier (2 HR, 8 RBI, 15 R), Kristina Bettis (77.0 IP, 32 BB, 93 SO)
 
Tru- Alex Beard (.400, 13 RBI), Cassie Smith (.354, 11 RBI, 14 SB), Mackenzie West (.360, 1 HR, 6 RBI), Annabel Zimmer (3-4, 3.69 ERA), Breianna Klein (3-5, 4.00 ERA)
 
WJ- Payton Totzke (.308, .471 OBP), Sophia Lopez (.289, .422 slugging), Amanda Chung (10 RBI), Alliyah Santiago (2-1, 1.77 ERA), Sammie Welt (1-3, 3.94 ERA)
 
Drury Summary
Record: 12-12 (0-0)
Current Streak: Won 2
All-time series vs. Truman St.: 9-14
All-time series vs. William Jewell: 13-14
Record in last four games: 2-3
Record at home: 6-3
Record on the road: 0-2
Record on neutral field: 6-7
Record vs. ranked opponents: 0-2
In 1-run games: 2-2
In last At-Bat: 1-1
Extra Innings: 1-0
Shutouts: 3-4
Run Rule Games: 1-2
Leading after 5 inn: 11-0
Trailing after 5 inn: 0-10
Tied after 5 inn: 1-2
Leading after 6 inn: 11-0
Trailing after 6 inn: 0-11
Tied after 6 inn: 1-0
Best record: 10-9, +1
Worst record: 2-7, -5
Longest win streak: 6 (Feb. 24 – Mar. 4)
Longest losing streak: 5 (Feb. 5 – Feb. 12)
 
 
#allweDUiswin