Fielding miscues domed Northwest Missouri State as the Drury Panthers took a pair from the Bearcats, 4-1 and 2-1 Tuesday afternoon at Thompson Field in non-conference softball action.

The Bearcats fell to 0-4 on the season while the Panthers improved to 5-2. Northwest returns to action this weekend in Arkansas as they will play six games in the three days at the Arkansas-Monticello Five State Classic starting Friday.

Game one – Box Score

Drury jumped out early on the Bearcats with a run in the first and then added a run in the third via a Northwest error. That proved all the Panthers needed handing the Bearcats their third straight loss with a 4-1 defeat.

The Bearcats got another solid effort from Jenna Creger in the circle, who went the distance scattering seven hits in the loss.

However, Creger would be charged with three of the four Panther runs including a two-run homer in the fifth that proved to be insurance for DU.

Northwest got its only run in the top of the seventh when Kayli Schurman connected for her first home run of the season.

Kristen Uthe was the only Bearcat to record multiple hits going 2-for-2 with a walk.

Drury got a solid pitching effort in game one from Kelsea Garthoff, who picked up her fourth win of the year. Garthoff only allowed the one run on the homer from Schurman, while scattering four hits and striking out five.

Game two – Box Score

The nightcap was also unkind to the Bearcats as their third fielding miscue led to the winning run for the Panthers and a double header sweep.

After falling behind 1-0 the Bearcats were able to tie the game in the top of the sixth when Rachael Schmitz doubled to lead off the inning. Schmitz would score three batters later when a fielder’s choice from Josie Van Houten tied the game.

Northwest would be just one out away from forcing extra innings and leaving two runners stranded for the Panthers; however, a dropped third strike continued the inning as the next hitter knocked a two-out single into left field scoring the winning run.

Morgan Brunmeier followed a solid outing from Creger, pitching a complete game and scattering six hits in the loss. Brunmeier allowed two runs, one of which was earned while striking out three.

The DU pitching staff limited the Bearcats to only two hits in the second game after only allowing four in game one.

— NWMSU Sports Information —