QUINCY, Ill. - The 13th ranked Quincy University baseball team picked up its first win of the 2018 season with a 4-3 walk-off win over Notre Dame College Saturday afternoon.
A pitching duel between the Hawks and Falcons kept the scored knotted at 0-0 through the first eight innings.
Starter Aaron Stone went 5 1/3, scattering eight hits and striking out three in his first start of the season.
The Hawks were limited to just two hits through the first five innings. QU threatened in the bottom of the fifth as Nolan Snyder singled and stole second base with two outs. Brynn Martinez followed with a walk but both runners were stranded.
In the top of the sixth, the first two batters reached for Notre Dame College and were moved to second and third after a successful sac bunt. Stone was lifted for Jimmy McDonald who got a strikeout and a groundout to eliminate the threat in the sixth.
In the top of the eighth, the Falcons plated a pair of runs to take a 2-0 lead over the Hawks.
The Hawks were set down in order in the eighth and the Falcons also went quietly in their half of the ninth.
JC DeMuri flew out to center field to start the ninth. Troy Wehde followed with a single to bring the tying run to the plate. Jeff Hightower, who was hitless through his first four at-bats, launched a 2-run home run to left field to tie the game a 2-2.
The Hawks looked to walk off in the bottom of the 10th as Snyder walked with one out. Martinez lined out to center field which brought up second baseman Cody Birdsong. Birdsong singled to put runners at the corners with two outs. DeMuri grounded out to second to end the 10th inning.
The Falcons took the lead on a sac fly in the top of the 12th and led the Hawks 3-2 heading into the bottom of the 12th.
Chandler Purcell drew a walk to lead off the bottom of the 12th and was pinch run for by Cole Cimarolli. Carter Naughton singled to put runners at first and third with nobody out.
Snyder delivered his second hit of the game to tie the game at 3-3 with no one out.
Martinez singled on his sac bunt attempt to load the bases for Birdsong.
Birdsong delivered with a singled on a 0-1 count to score Naughton and give the Hawks a 4-3 win.
Cole Crawford (1-0) was credited with the win after tossing two innings.
QU's second game of the day was postponed due to weather. The Hawks will play Notre Dame College and the University of Indianapolis tomorrow (Feb. 25) and Indianapolis again Monday (Feb. 26) to make up the postponed game.
