Panthers defeat Truman State and earn second conference sweep

OZARK, Mo.— A nine-run first inning catapulted the Drury Panthers to a 12-7 win over Truman State on Sunday at Sky Bacon Stadium in Ozark, Missouri.
 
On a windy Sunday afternoon, the bats started out hot on both sides with Truman State getting the first blow taking a 1-0 lead in the first inning, but the Drury Panthers came to play and exploded with a nine-run bottom frame which they never looked back. Back-to-back doubles from Luke Burk and Kellen Williamson gave Drury the 2-1 lead. Tyler Bastunas truly opened the door with a three-run double as the score after the first inning was 9-1 in favor of the home side.
 
Truman State did answer as they added three more runs in the top of the second but a sacrifice bunt from Carson Shaver and a single from Bastunas gave the Panthers an 11-4 lead through two innings of play. Truman State added one more run in the third inning before Drury brought in Wesley Laaker who got a clutch bases-loaded strikeout to end the third.
 
“He was great,” said Drury Head Coach Scott Nasby of Laaker, “Came in, in a stressful situation with the bases loaded. To get a strikeout right there was absolutely huge. I think he retired thirteen straight at one point and then let a man reach but we couldn’t’ve asked for any more. That’s what we needed.”
 
The 4.1 innings pitched by Laaker was the longest appearance of his Drury career, as he earned his second win of the year.
 
The Bulldogs added two more runs late in the game but the door was eventually shut by Bastunas as the Panthers went home 12-7 winners and are now riding a five-game winning streak heading into a midweek clash with Central Missouri on Wednesday in Warrensburg. First pitch is scheduled for 6 pm.
 
 
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