QUINCY, Ill. - The #23 Quincy University baseball team defeated the University of Southern Indiana Friday night (Mar. 15). The Hawks trailed 5-0 after three full innings before outscoring the Screaming Eagles 11-1 over the games final six innings. A five-run top of the fifth proved to be the difference in the Hawks 10th win of the season.
Play by Play:
Southern Indiana scored two runs in the first and second innings to take a 4-0 lead. The Screaming Eagles scored again in the bottom of the third to take a 5-0 lead over QU.
The Hawks took advantage of a throwing error in the top of the fourth as Cody Birdsong scored after Troy Wehde flew out.
In the fifth, the first two Hawks runs were both scored due to errors by Southern Indiana. With a pair of runners on base, Cody Birdsong drove his second home run of the season over the right-field wall to give the Hawks a 6-5 lead.
One inning later, Jake Viaene launched his second home run of the season to right field. The home run brought home Jeff Hightower who led off the inning with a walk.
Southern Indiana got a run back in the bottom of the seventh to cut the Hawks lead to 8-6.
In the top of the ninth, Brynn Martinez and JC DeMuri both reached after being hit by a pair of pitches. Troy Wehde brought home Martinez and DeMuri with a triple to right field. Wehde would later score on an error to put the Hawks up 11-6.
Karl Hirsch picked up the win, working 5 2/3 innings out of the bullpen. Hirsch struck out six while allowing four runs in his outing. Cole Crawford picked up his third save of the season, tossing 1 2/3 innings in the eighth and ninth innings.
Stat Leaders for QU:
Cody Birdsong: 1-5, 3 RBIs, 2 runs, 1 HR
Troy Wehde: 1-5, 3 RBIs
Jake Viaene: 3-5, 2 RBIs, 2 runs, 1 HR
Karl Hirsch (W) 1-1: 5 2/3 IP, 6 SO
Cole Crawford (S) 3: 1 2/3 IP, 3 SO
Next up for the Hawks:
The Hawks and Screaming Eagles play tomorrow at 2 p.m. in game two of the three-game series.
QU's Record:
The Hawks are now 10-5 on the season and have won five straight.
