Drury 5 Wayne State 2

            Drury University built a 4-0 first inning lead, then held off a Wildcat comeback, as the Panthers defeated Wayne State College 5-2 Sunday afternoon at the Pittsburg State Softball Triangular in Kansas.  WSC falls to 0-4 with the loss while Drury is now 4-8 following the win.
            The Panthers jumped out to a quick 4-0 lead in the first inning on five hits and one Wildcat error.
            Wayne State was held hitless through four innings, but the Wildcat bats came alive in the fifth inning as WSC scored two runs while leaving the bases loaded.
            Annika Manzanares had a one-out double to right center to start the rally and moved to third on a Haley Murphy single.  Natalie Arbizu singled up the middle to bring home Manzanares followed by a bunt single from Abby Husing to load the bases. 
            Riley Holmberg's singled to shortstop drove home Murphy with the second run of the inning, but WSC could not get another hit and left the bases loaded with the score 4-2.
            Drury added an insurance run in the bottom of the fourth inning to close the scoring in the 5-2 contest.
            Drury had 11 hits in the game to six for WSC while both teams had two errors.
            Holmberg was 2 for 4 with a pair of singles and an RBI to lead WSC in hitting.  Manzanares and Murphy each went 1 for 3 with a run scored, Arbizu had an RBI single and Husing also singled.
            Sophomore starter Samantha Felt was tagged with the loss in the circle despite a complete game effort.  She was charged with three earned runs while allowing 11 hits with just one walk.
            Wayne State will be in action again next weekend at the Washburn Tournament in Topeka, Kansas Friday, Saturday and Sunday.