The Northwest Missouri State softball team dropped another heart breaker Wednesday to the Drury Panthers falling in game one 2-0 and in game two 6-4 in extra innings at Bearcat Field.

The Bearcats have now lost their last four games and eight of their last 10 as they return to MIAA play on the weekend. Northwest saw its record fall to 14-26 on the season as Drury improved to 29-16 overall completing a season sweep of the Bearcats.

Both teams locked in a pitcher’s duel in game one as Abbie Vitosh held the Panthers to only five hits and two runs over seven innings. However the Bearcat offense was held to only two hits and no runs in the loss.

Vitosh was able to hold Drury scoreless over the first six innings, but the Panthers were still able to break through in the top of the seventh. A double to lead-off the inning followed by a home run gave Drury all the run support they needed as Bearcats went down in order in the bottom half of the inning.

Game two saw more offense from both teams.

The Panthers got on the board in the top of the first inning and took a 1-0 lead into the sixth inning before the Bearcats got in on the scoring.

Jordan Ereth reached on an error followed by a Hailee Hendricks single. Another DU error gave the Bearcats their first run of the day scoring both Ereth and Hendricks.

DU would tie the game at 2-2 in the seventh on a “Seeing Eye” single that sent the game into extra innings.

In the eighth the Panthers added two runs putting the pressure back on the Bearcats. Northwest would answer as Rachael Schmitz belted a home run to straight away center to tie the game.

However that would be the end of the Bearcat offense, as Drury added another two runs in the top of the seventh; the Bearcats would go down in order in the bottom of the ninth ending the game.

Northwest returns to MIAA play hosting Washburn on Friday at Bearcat Field. First pitch of the doubleheader is scheduled for 3 p.m.

— NWMSU Sports Information —