Panthers battle back for split at McKendree

LEBANON, Ill. – Drury recovered from a 10-inning loss in game one of a doubleheader at McKendree to win game two 6-4 and come away with a split against the Bearcats in Lebanon, Illinois, on Sunday.
 
The Panthers ended the day with a record of 22-24 and 10-10 in the Great Lakes Valley Conference. McKendree went to 25-13 and 12-8 in the league.
 
Game one was a scoreless battle that went into the 10^th inning when the Bearcats got a double down the left field line with two outs from Taylor Witges that drove in Jordan Sapp for the winning run.
 
Kristina Bettis (12-12) took the loss for Drury despite going 9.2 innings, allowing only three hits and one run with four walks and 10 strikeouts. Ellie Quaetham (17-3) got the win for McKendree and pitched 10 shutout innings allowing five hits, none for extra bases, no walks and she struck out 10.
 
In game two, the Panthers had a 3-1 lead, but McKendree tallied three runs in the fourth to go ahead 4-3. Drury tied the game in the fifth as pinch-runner Cheyanne Mohler scored from third base on a wild pitch. Lauren Beier then gave Drury the lead for good in the sixth, driving in two runs with a single to center field.
 
Beier finished the game with three RBI’s and Rylee Kolb went 3 for 4 with a run, an RBI and two doubles.
 
Karsyn Smith (3-3) got the win for Drury, while Bettis returned in game two to pitch the seventh inning for her first save of the year. Sydney Bires (3-4) took the loss for the Bearcats.
 
The Panthers return home and will host Senior Day to honor their graduating players on Saturday when they host Illinois Springfield for a doubleheader starting at noon at Thompson Field.
 
 
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