NE Missouri News

The Bulldog Softball team opened up Great Lakes Valley Conference play on Sunday with a doubleheader split to Drury University on Sunday. Truman State lost the opener 9-1 and after rallying in the top of the seventh in game two won it in the ninth by a 5-4 score. 

The Bulldogs move to Rolla, Missouri for a GLVC twin bill with Missouri S&T on Monday starting at 1 p.m.

Drury 9, Truman State 1

The Bulldogs struck first as Alivia Daniels drew a one out walk but was erased on a fielders choice off the bat of Macy Taylor. Taylor swiped second base and scored on an RBI single by Cassie Smith.

The Lady Panthers answered back as two walks to start the inning haunted the Bulldogs when a double followed later by a groundout gave Drury a 2-1 advantage.

It remained that way until the sixth when a leadoff walk followed by another two-bagger put Drury up 3-1. Then some more bases on balls were issued allowing Lady Panthers to cross the plate before an RBI single scored the seventh run in the inning to end the game.

Truman State 5, Drury 4 (9 Innings)

A similar script started game two as once again Truman grabbed the early lead as Alex Beard picked up the RBI as she drove in Emily Eberwine with two outs in the third inning. However, just like the earlier game, Drury responded and grabbed the lead in their half of the third. A two-out, two-run homer by Megan Parsley made in 2-1 in favor of Drury.

In the sixth, the first two reached for Drury and advanced into scoring position on a passed ball. A single to center added a run. The Bulldogs got a double play with nabbing a runner trying to score but a wild pitch followed by an infield single put Drury up 4-1.

Truman rallied with two outs in the seventh. Cassie Smith started it with a single and Eberwine was hit by a pitch. An errant throw allowed Smith to score and and moved the tying run to second base. Beard delivered again with a clutch infield single that plated both Eberwine and Cameryn Patterson to tie the game at four each.

Breianna Klein struck out two of the three hitters in the seventh to send the game into extra innings. 

Truman went in order in their eighth while a pair of defensive gems preserved the tie in the bottom of the inning. With a runner on first, Eberwine made a nifty catch on a line drive to center field for the second out then Smith snared a liner at second to move the game to the ninth.

Smith used her speed to help Truman grab the lead in their next at bat. She hit a ball towards second that was thrown in the dirt and past the first baseman while Smith scooted into second. She moved up on a passed ball. Patterson then laced a double down the left field line to score Smith for the 5-4 lead.

Klein recorded the first two outs but a sinking line drive to left just got down for a double for the Lady Panthers, a walk on a close 3-2 pitch put the winning run aboard and a four-pitch walked loaded the bases. 

Home run hitter Parsley lifted a 1-1 pitch toward right field but Maria McGonegle was camped under it for the winner. 

Klein went all nine innings and struck out six to pick up the win.

Beard went 3-for-5 with two RBI and Smith also picked up a pair of hits. 

Original source can be found here.