Drury Softball Downs No. 24 Alabama-Huntsville 4-3
from a Drury Athletics Press Release:
FLORENCE, Ala. - Drury held off No. 24 Alabama-Huntsville for a 4-3 victory and a split of the Panthers' two games Saturday in the North Alabama Invitational.
Drury fell 2-1 to host North Alabama in Saturday's opener, but still emerged from the day's play with a 6-2 overall record. The Panthers are 3-1 in the Invitational heading into Sunday matches with Shorter (10 a.m.) and Miles (2 p.m.) to conclude their appearance in the three-day meet.
In the win over Alabama-Huntsville (7-5), the Panthers trailed 1-0 until the fourth, when Betsey Toalson scored from third on an error, Denise Taylor trotted home on a passed ball and then Jordan Herman' drove in a pair with a double to grab a 4-1 advantage.
UAH closed the gap with two runs in the fifth, but Villarreal took it home from there to move to 5-0 on the season.
The Panthers managed just five hits - from five different players - but it was enough to snag the victory. Villarreal (5-0) struck out seven in seven innings, allowing seven hits and three runs (all earned).
Villarrreal provided some strong work - three scoreless innings of one-hit relief - in the opener of the hard-luck loss with North Alabama (11-2), when the hosts jumped on DU starterCaitlin Krebs (2-2) for two runs in the first.
Stacy Razo reached on a single, then later scored on a UNA overthrow to third base to cut the deficit to 2-1 in the third, but the Panthers couldn't muster anymore offense the rest of the way.
Razo had two of DU's five hits in the opener against North Alabama pitcher Brianna Riley (6-1), who struck out seven in going the distance for the Lions.
Drury's victory over No. 24 Alabama-Huntsville was its third over a ranked team in the program's six-year history, and second under Wilson. Her Panthers knocked off then-No. 17 Missouri Western 1-0 in a meeting in Saint Joseph's last year, and won 3-0 at then-No. 7 Lewis in their inaugural 2008 season.
The 6-2 start is Drury's best after eight games in the program's six-year history, topping last season's 5-3 beginning on their way to a school-record 36 victories (36-19).
Box Score vs. North Alabama
Box Score vs. Alabama-Huntsville
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