Joplin, Mo. -- The Missouri Southern baseball team fell victim to a big inning and the No. 22 Drury Panthers defeated the Lions 6-2 tonight in non-conference action at Joe Becker Stadium. 

Lions' starter Skylar Hill started and went six innings, striking out five and walking just three. A big six-run (three earned) third inning from Drury (31-9) did in the junior righty for the Lions as Hill's record fell to 4-2 on the season. 

The Panthers scored six runs, three earned, in the third and benefitted from two Missouri Southern errors. 

Southern answered back with a run in the fifth on an RBI from Evin Natick on one of two doubles in the game from the left fielder, this one scoring Jared Lupo. The Lions got another run in the seventh on an RBI from Axel Johnson on a single up the middle, scoring Austin White. 

Drury would commit five errors itself, but the Lions couldn't capitalize as Southern left nine on base in the game. 

Drew Noble threw two innings of relief, striking out one and holding the Panthers hitless. Stephen Vaughn threw a scoreless ninth, striking out two. 

Natick went 2-5 with two doubles, and an RBI. Johnson went 2-4 with an RBI, while Matt Smith had two hits in the game, as well. Lupo and White scored a run each. 

The Lions will be back in action this weekend with a series at Nebraska-Kearney. The series has been pushed up a day due to the threat of wet weather on Sunday. The Lions will play one game on Thursday night at 6 pm and two on Friday at 3 pm. The two teams will finish the series with a single, nine-inning game on Saturday at 1 pm.