Panthers topple 8th ranked Missouri Southern St. in Joplin

JOPLIN, Mo.— Wes Collins homered twice and Brandon Holdren went 4 for 5 as the Drury Panthers took down eighth-ranked Missouri Southern State 11-4 in Joplin on Tuesday.
 
The Panthers won for the seventh time in eight games and raised their record to 22-15. The Lions dropped to 33-11.
 
Collins got Drury on the board with a solo shot in the second inning and the Panthers added two more runs in the frame. Drury built a 9-0 lead in the top of the eighth and, after Missouri Southern scored three runs in the inning, added two more in the ninth. Collins went deep again in the final inning with a bomb to center field for his seventh home run of the year.
 
Holdren went 4 for 5 with a home run, his seventh of the season, three runs and two RBIs. The four hits were a season-high for Holdren and his team-leading 17^th multi-hit game of the year. Collins, Connor Bain, and Briar Stinson all had three hits in the game.
 
Zach McKinnis (2-2) got the win in relief for Drury after starter Corbin Bassham gave the Panthers four scoreless innings. Cale McCallister (3-3) took the loss for the Lions.
 
The win is Drury’s second victory against a nationally ranked team this year. The Panthers won at eighth-ranked West Texas A&M on Feb. 23. Drury has scored runs in the double-digits in two straight games.   
 
The Panthers return to conference play this weekend when they open a four-game series on Friday at Rockhurst. The first pitch is scheduled for 6 pm in Kansas City, Missouri.
 
 
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