Box Score Drury (Mo.) 6 Wayne State 3

            Despite out-hitting Drury 8-6, the Wayne State softball team dropped a 6-3 decision to the Panthers Friday afternoon at the Alvy Early Memorial Tournament in Bentonville, Arkansas.  WSC drops to 0-2 on the year while Drury improves to 2-3 with the win.
            Drury opened the scoring with one run in the top of the second and three more in the third for a 4-0 lead.
            WSC got one run back in the bottom of the third as Hayley Murphy walked and scored on an RBI groundout from Riley Holmberg to cut the Panther advantage to 4-1.
            The Panthers used single runs in the fourth and sixth innings to secure a 6-1 lead on the Wildcats.
            Wayne State plated one run in the bottom of the sixth on an RBI single by Paiton Tornberg that brought home pinch runner Abby Husing after Jenna Etmans led off the frame with a single.
            The 'Cats scored their final run of the game in the bottom of the seventh when Lauren Laudick reached on a passed ball third strike and later scored.
            WSC had two more hits than Drury, 8-6, but the Panthers took advantage of nine walks by Wildcat pitching.
            Kortney Buresh went 3 for 4 at the plate with three singles to lead WSC followed by Kamryn Sparks going 2 for 4 with a pair of singles.  Etmans and Michaela Smith also singled for the 'Cats.
            Three pitchers saw action in the circle for WSC.  Hadley Chvatal worked 2 1/3 innings and suffered the loss.  Freshman Sami Felt pitched 3 2/3 innings of relief while sophomore Callie Carraher worked a perfect final inning. 
            Wayne State will play two more games Saturday at the Alvy Early Memorial Tournament in Arkansas battling Harding (Ark.) at 11 a.m. and Southeastern Oklahoma State in a 1 p.m. contest.