team dugout
Brad Loper

Baseball Brendan Bittner

GAMEDAY CENTRAL: Quincy, UCSD Match Up In Elimination Game

#14 Quincy (37-22 Midwest) vs. #4 UC San Diego (40-18 West)
May 30, 2017 | 3 p.m.
Grand Prairie, Texas | The Ballpark in Grand Prairie
SPRAKER'S START: Senior right-hander Graham Spraker took the ball in the Hawks' first-ever game at the NCAA Division II Baseball Championships and twirled a gem over six innings. The senior gave up just two unearned runs in the fourth inning, but otherwise blanked a powerful and deep Colorado Mesa lineup. He struck out six, walked two and gave up only four hits – all singles – in six innings. He threw 56 strikes over 88 pitches. 

'PEN PROBLEMS: The QU bullpen entered Sunday's game with a 6-0 record and a 2.52 ERA in 10 postseason games, but the Hawks' relief arms were not able to hold a 3-2 lead in the seventh as the Mavericks scored five runs on no hits in the inning to pull ahead 7-3. CMU went on to a 10-3 victory. 

SNYDER STRIKES: With the Hawks down 2-1 in the sixth inning, senior Jake Walters drew a walk and junior J.C. DeMuri was hit by a pitch. Two batters later, sophomore Nolan Snyder yanked an 0-1 pitch from Colorado Mesa reliever Tyler Day into the gap in left-center, bringing in both runners to give the Hawks a 3-2 lead. The left fielder has been the Hawks' leading hitter in 11 postseason games, hitting .349 (15-for-43) with three doubles and 11 RBI, which ranks second on the team in the postseason. Snyder is riding a team-high six-game hitting streak.

DOUBLE DOUBLE: The only QU player with more runs driven in this postseason is DeMuri, who has 12 RBI in 11 games. He put the Hawks on the board in the fourth inning Sunday night, following Walters' double with a double of his own. DeMuri reached base three times in the game, going 2-for-3 with a hit-by-pitch. In the postseason, DeMuri is hitting .326 (14-for-43) with a double, two homers and a .400 on-base percentage. 

POWER SURGE: The QU lineup ranks 12th in Division II with 76 home runs, led by Walters, who has slugged 18 on the season. Junior Troy Wehde has 12 home runs and DeMuri has powered 11 bombs as the other two players with double-digit homer totals.

PITCHING MACHINES: While the Hawks are well-known for the power in their lineup, the pitching staff has been on a roll this postseason. The Hawks have a 3.09 ERA in 11 playoff games with 102 strikeouts in 99 innings. Quincy's starters are 3-1 with a 2.38 ERA in that span with a .233 batting average against. Freshman southpaw Riley Martin is 1-0 in three starts with a 1.69 ERA, striking out 14 in 16 innings. The starters have allowed just two home runs in 56 2/3 innings.

MILES AHEAD: Quincy's leadoff hitter and center fielder Dominic Miles has put together one of the greatest careers in program history. He is the Hawks' all-time leader in hits (271), runs (197) and at-bats (768). He is also tied for first in walks (109), tied for third in doubles (40) and ranks fourth in RBI (143). The left-handed hitter is a career .353 hitter. This season, Miles is batting .341 with 12 doubles, five homers, 63 runs and 20 stolen bases. He is reaching base at a .452 clip. In six games at the Midwest Regional, Miles had five hits and seven walks and led the team with seven runs.

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Players Mentioned

Dominic Miles

#7 Dominic Miles

OF
6' 2"
Senior
L/R
Nolan Snyder

#4 Nolan Snyder

OF
6' 3"
Sophomore
R/R
Graham Spraker

#30 Graham Spraker

RHP
6' 3"
Senior
R/R
Jake Walters

#21 Jake Walters

2B
5' 10"
Senior
R/R
Troy Wehde

#34 Troy Wehde

C
6' 5"
Junior
L/R
JC DeMuri

#9 JC DeMuri

OF
6' 4"
Junior
R/L
Riley Martin

#32 Riley Martin

LHP
6' 1"
Freshman
L/L

Players Mentioned

Dominic Miles

#7 Dominic Miles

6' 2"
Senior
L/R
OF
Nolan Snyder

#4 Nolan Snyder

6' 3"
Sophomore
R/R
OF
Graham Spraker

#30 Graham Spraker

6' 3"
Senior
R/R
RHP
Jake Walters

#21 Jake Walters

5' 10"
Senior
R/R
2B
Troy Wehde

#34 Troy Wehde

6' 5"
Junior
L/R
C
JC DeMuri

#9 JC DeMuri

6' 4"
Junior
R/L
OF
Riley Martin

#32 Riley Martin

6' 1"
Freshman
L/L
LHP