OZARK, Mo. – Drury held off Washburn for an 8-6 win on Sunday at US Baseball Park to earn a split of a four-game series against the Ichabods.
The Panthers improved to 2-2 with the win while Washburn dropped to 8-3.
Drury scored two runs in the first inning on singles by Nic Perkins and KK Daniel. They took a 3-0 lead in the fourth on Riley Herron’s two-out single but Washburn threatened Drury’s lead throughout.
The Ichabods had their leadoff hitter aboard in every inning from the fourth through the ninth and pulled within a run of the lead in the top of the sixth and again in the eighth when they trailed 5-4.
Caleb Essick drove in three runs with a bases-loaded double in the bottom of the eighth that gave the Panthers an 8-4 cushion.
Herron ended the day going 2 for 4 with three runs batted in for the Panthers.
Austin Simms got the win for Drury in his season debut going six innings allowing 7 hits, 3 runs and 1 earned run with no walks and 4 strikeouts.
Quentin McGrath (0-1) took the loss for Washburn.
Drury plays again on Friday when they open a four-game weekend series against McKendree. Game time Friday is 3 p.m. at US Baseball Park.
