ST. LOUIS, Mo.— Eight runs were not enough for Drury to win game one, but 21 were plenty for a game two victory as the Panthers split a doubleheader at Missouri-St. Louis on Tuesday at UMSL Field. Drury lost game one, 12-8, but took the second game 21-3.
The Panthers, winners of six of their last eight games, moved to 6-8 and 6-6 in the Great Lakes Valley Conference. The Tritons went to 5-14 and 3-9 in the league.
Drury scored six runs in the first inning of game one and got home runs in the opening frame from Aaron Mann, a two-run shot, and DJ McNew, also a two-run homer. But the lead didn’t last for long as Missouri-St. Louis scored two runs in the first, then six in the second inning to take an 8-2 lead.
The Panthers pulled within a run on Nikko Calabro’s RBI-single in the fourth inning, but UMSL countered with four runs in the bottom of the fourth and held off Drury down the stretch in the seven-inning game.
McNew went 3 for 4 in the game with a double, home run, three runs batted in, and a run scored.
Cade Waits (1-1) took the loss for the Panthers while Missouri-St. Louis reliever Jacob Mosher (1-1) got the win, and Trent Anderson pitched three innings for his first save.
Drury scored seven runs in the first inning of game two and bookended the game with seven more runs in the seventh to win 21-3.
The Panthers scored 21 runs on 13 hits, and eight of their hits went for extra bases. Drury set a team single-game record with five home runs in the contest as Aaron Mann and DJ McNew both went deep in each half of the doubleheader. Clayton Engel, Hamilton Anderson, and Ethan Owens also connected on round-trippers for the Panthers.
Mann’s home run was a grand slam, and the sophomore from Little Rock, Arkansas, was 3 for 6 at the plate with three runs scored and 6 RBI’s. The six driven in is tied for the third-most in a single game in program history.
Cody Bahl (2-0) got the win for Drury going six innings allowing five hits, three runs, and two earned runs with three walks and six strikeouts. UMSL starter Grant Brunstetter (1-1) took the loss.
Drury travels to Rockhurst on Thursday to open a four-game series against the Hawks. The first pitch is scheduled for 6 pm in Kansas City, Missouri.
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