Springfield, Mo. –The trend of splitting Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) doubleheaders continues for the Missouri S&T softball team as the Lady Miners for the fifth time this season experienced both sides of a game's outcome.  S&T was victorious in Monday's (April 9) opening game with Drury by coming from behind to notch a 7-4 decision but then fell 7-1 to the Panthers in the second game at Thompson Field.
 
In the opener, S&T overcame a three-run deficit early in the game with a four-run fourth inning to post a 7-4 victory behind the pitching of sophomore Avery English (Carterville, Ill./Carterville) to go with a balanced hitting attack.
 
Drury was dominant in game two as the Panthers led from start to finish, scoring four times in the fifth to seal the win. 
 
Missouri S&T has presently registered a 19-17 overall record and is 9-7 in the GLVC following today's result while Drury is 11-19 overall and 4-12 in the conference.     
    
Game 1 – Missouri S&T 7, Drury 4
 
A four-run fourth inning proved to be the difference as S&T rallied from a three-run deficit to hand Drury a 7-4 loss while registering its 19th win of this season.
 
The Lady Miners, who were outhit 8-7 in the contest, trailed 3-0 after three innings of action as a result of the host Panthers scoring a trio of third-inning runs.  A bases-loaded fielder's choice accounted for the game's first run followed by a RBI single and DU's third score occurred on an S&T outfield error.
 
The resiliency of the Lady Miners paid off as the visitors answered back in the top of the fourth inning to erase their deficit by plating four runs on three hits. A RBI double by junior outfielder Carley Hamann scored junior first baseman Gretchen Egly (Joliet, Ill./Plainfield Central), who had walked to lead off the frame and moved to second on sophomore designated player Olivia Young'ssingle.  Freshman catcher Ashley Davis greeted DU relief pitcher Madison Resch with a run-scoring single as S&T sliced the Panthers' lead to 3-2.  A RBI sacrifice fly out from junior second baseman Hannah Franceschiniscored the tying run and S&T proceeded to take the lead at 4-3 two batters later when sophomore shortstop Abby Kleinwas hit by a pitch with the bases loaded.
 
In the top of the fifth, S&T increased its lead to 6-3 as Olivia Young (Milstadt, Ill./Belleville Township) lead off with a single and went to third on Carley Hamann (Frankfort, Ill./Lincoln Way North)'s double to right field. Hannah Franceschini (Plainfield, Ill./Plainfield Central) bounced into a fielder's choice which scored Young and Hamann would cross home plate moments later on junior outfielder Rachel Aiardo'sinfield ground out.  The Lady Miners netted their final run in the sixth as junior outfielder Courtney Jackson singled to lead off and then stole second base.  Abby Klein (Kansas City, MO/Staley) followed with a single and an infield DU error allowed Jackson to score an unearned run.  Drury accounted for the game's final margin in the bottom of the seventh with a run-scoring single off S&T starting pitcher Avery English (Carterville, Ill./Carterville) (13-8), who struck out three and issued one walk in earning the complete-game win.  Madison Resch (2-9), who came in relief of starter Hailly Greenough in the fourth inning, took the loss as she gave up three runs on as many hits while fanning three in her lone inning of work.
 
The Lady Miners were led in hitting by Olivia Young (Milstadt, Ill./Belleville Township) and Carley Hamann (Frankfort, Ill./Lincoln Way North), who both went two-of-four at the plate with two runs scored.  Hannah Franceschini (Plainfield, Ill./Plainfield Central) recorded a team-high two RBI's while Abby Klein (Kansas City, MO/Staley), Hamann, Ashley Davis (Erie, Ill./Erie), and Rachel Aiardo (Naperville, Ill./Naperville North) had one RBI apiece for S&T, which stranded eight runners on base while Drury left nine on the base paths.   
           
Game 2 – Drury 7, Missouri S&T 1
 
Drury reversed the outcome in the nightcap as the Panthers scored first with three runs in the first two innings and then added four more in the fifth for a 7-1 victory over S&T. 
 
The Panthers wasted little time scoring upon S&T senior pitcher Kati Viets (Sweet Springs, Mo./Sweet Springs) as a first-inning RBI single from Hailly Greenough put the host team up 1-0.  DU would go on to score twice in the next inning as Natalie Lopez cleared the bases with a two-run homer.  
 
Down 3-0 through the initial two frames, S&T managed to get on the scoreboard in the top of third as Hannah Franceschini (Plainfield, Ill./Plainfield Central) scored on an infield error after reaching base with a leadoff single.  A bunt single from senior third baseman Monica Weiss (St. Louis, Mo./Marquette) moved Franceschini to second and a DU miscue on Courtney Jackson (Parkville, Mo./Park Hill South)'s bunt single play to third advanced the runners to an additional base.  The Lady Miners threatened to score more but Monica Weiss (St. Louis, Mo./Marquette) was caught in a run down from third to home following Abby Klein (Kansas City, MO/Staley)'s fly out for the third out.
 
Drury put the game away for all intents and purposes in the fifth inning by scoring four runs on three hits to go with a S&T error.  A RBI double by Jacy Ummel scored a run and a Lady Miners' error brought home another.  The Panthers went up 6-1 on a Madison Hecker RBI single and a wild pitch scored the contest's last run.  
 
For S&T, Kati Viets (Sweet Springs, Mo./Sweet Springs) (6-7) went the distance as she walked two and had two strikeouts.  Kasey Cazares (4-6) did likewise for Drury and gave up only four hits while striking out eight and walking two S&T batters.
 
Monica Weiss (St. Louis, Mo./Marquette), Courtney Jackson (Parkville, Mo./Park Hill South), Olivia Young (Milstadt, Ill./Belleville Township), and Hannah Franceschini (Plainfield, Ill./Plainfield Central) accounted for the Lady Miners' four hits in the game as S&T had five runners left on base to DU's three.    
 
 
Up Next
Missouri S&T takes a brief break from GLVC play to entertain the Rogers State Hillcats this Tuesday (April 10) in a non-league doubleheader at the S&T Softball Field in Rolla, Mo.  Game one starts at 1 p.m. (CT) with the second game to follow at 3 p.m. (CT).