Drury loses lead in game one, holds off a McKendree rally in game two to split with Bearcats

LEBANON, Ill.— Drury lost a lead in game one but held off a McKendree rally in game two to split a doubleheader with the Bearcats on Friday in Lebanon, Illinois. The Panthers fell in game one 15-9, then took the second game 8-7.
 
Drury moved their record to 15-14 and 13-5 in the Great Lakes Valley Conference. McKendree went to 12-19 and 6-12 in the league.
 
In game one, the Panthers had a 9-0 lead going into the bottom of the sixth, but McKendree turned the game around with an 11-run inning. The Bearcats scored 11 runs on nine hits and took advantage of a Drury error, and two passed balls in their half of the frame. Five of the 11 runs scored in the inning were unearned.
 
Briar Stinson was a defensive replacement in game one and went 2 for 2 with solo home runs in both at-bats. Brandon Holdren was 2 for 4 with a home run and three RBIs. Max Elmer stole three bases and scored twice in the game. Drury batters drew nine walks and were hit by pitches five times but stranded 12 runners in the loss.
 
Derek Galdoni (2-1) got the win in relief for the Bearcats, while Gage Hayes (0-1) took the loss for the Panthers.
 
Drury opened game two with a seven-run first inning. Luke Burk put the Panthers on the board with a two-run homer, his 11^th of the year. After Drury Kaden Byrne was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, Landon Willbrand belted a grand slam to give the Panthers a seven-run frame to start the contest.
 
The Bearcats threatened with a four-run fifth inning to cut Drury’s lead to 8-5, then pulled within a run of the lead in the seventh. McKendree got an RBI single, then a sacrifice fly to make it 8-7. Reliever Tyler Bastunas got a fly ball to center field to end the game as the Bearcats stranded the tying run at first base.
 
Burk, Willbrand, and Connor Bain all went 2 for 3 at the plate for Drury. Cade Waits (6-0) got the win, Basturnas picked up his first save, and Trey Cole (2-4) took the loss for McKendree. 
 
Drury continues their four-game series against the Bearcats tomorrow with a doubleheader starting at noon in Lebanon, Illinois.
 
 
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