Springfield, Mo. – The Maryville baseball team dropped a pair of games to Drury University Friday afternoon at US Baseball Park in Springfield, Mo. The Saints fell in the first game of the series, 3-2 in 10 innings and then dropped the nightcap, 4-2.
 
The Panthers grabbed an early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the third inning, but Maryville answered in the top of the fourth as Cody Klotz opened the frame with a triple to right field and scored on a Louis Niemerg infield ground out to tie the contest at 1-1. Maryville grabbed the lead in the sixth inning as Klotz reached base on a fielder's choice and moved to third after a stolen base and a throwing error. Mitch Carriger drove in his team leading 47th run batted in on the season with a single to right field that scored Klotz and gave Maryville a 2-1 advantage. Drury tied the game in the home half of the ninth and won the game in the 10^th inning with a walk-off home run.
 
Alec Harris suffered his second loss of the year by giving up a run on one hit on the day. The Saints were led at the plate by Danny Covert with a pair of hits and Klotz, who scored both of the Maryville runs in the contest.
 
Zack Ruckman got the Saints going in the nightcap as he opened the game with a walk and stole second base. Tyler Catlett moved Ruckman over to third with an infield single and scored on a Dalton Schumer single to left field to give the Saints a 1-0 lead. The Panthers battled back with a pair of runs in the second inning and single runs in the fourth and fifth to take a 4-1 advantage. The Saints cut into the Drury lead in the top of the sixth inning as Carriger drew a free pass to open the inning and moved to third on a Schumer double to center field. Covert lifted a sacrifice fly to left to score Carriger and cut the Panther lead to 4-2.
 
The Saints had an opportunity in the seventh as Camdon Mercier singled to left field and advanced to second as Ruckman drilled a single to put runners at first and second. After a fielder's choice forced Ruckman out, Carriger was hit by a pitch to load the bases, but Drury tight roped out of danger with a fly out to end the game and secure the sweep.
 
Joey Lodes suffered the loss to fall to 3-2 on the year by giving up three runs on two hits in the contest. Ruckman finished the game by going 1-for-2 with a run scored and he also drew a pair of walks in the loss as the Saints fell to 22-22 on the year and 9-13 in Great Lakes Valley Conference play.
 
The Saints and Panthers will finish the four-game series on Sunday afternoon at US Baseball Park with a doubleheader set to begin at noon.