QUINCY, Ill. - The QU baseball team pounded out 27 runs in its doubleheader sweep of IU South Bend Thursday (Apr. 26).  The Hawks extended their winning streak to four with the pair of wins.  QU won the doubleheader with scores of 14-7, 13-4.  

Play by Play:

Game 1

Brendan Saak made the first start of his college career in game one of the doubleheader.  Saak went four and two thirds on the mound to pick up his first win of the season. He allowed five runs while striking out five. 

The Titans plated a pair of runs in the top of the second to take an early 2-0 lead.  

Michael Nielsen launched his team-leading eighth home run of the year to cut the lead to 2-1 in the bottom of the second.  

Back to back walks brought Jeff Hightower to the plate.  Hightower doubled off the wall to score Matt Hilmes and Chandler Purcell.  

The Hawks plated two more runs in the inning to push the lead to 4-2.  

TJ Tamaccio singled home two more runs in the bottom of the third and the Hawks led 6-2 through three innings. 

Two more runs in the bottom of the fourth gave QU an 8-2 lead.  

IU South Bend cut the Hawks lead to 8-5 in the top of the fifth.  

The Hawks offense exploded for six runs in the bottom of the fifth.  QU pounded out six runs on four hits in the inning.  

The Titans were able to score two more runs in the sixth inning but the Hawks lead was too large. 

QU took the first game of the doubleheader 14-7.  

Game 2

The Hawks used a seven-run fourth inning to take a 13-4 win over the Titans in the second game of the doubleheader.  

After allowing a run in the top of the first, Brynn Martinez led off the bottom of the first with a towering home run to right field to tie the game at 1-1.  

The Titans took a 2-1 lead after the top of the second.  

In the bottom of the frame, Cody Birdsong tied the game on a double to score TJ Tamaccio.  Troy Wehde scored Martinez on a sac fly and the Hawks led 3-2 through two innings.  

A run in the top of the fourth for the Titans tied the game at 3-3. 

Michael Nielsen doubled to left center to lead off the bottom of the fourth inning.  

Chandler Purcell doubled off the right-field walk to score Nielsen.  

Matt Hilmes followed with the Hawks third straight double to put runners on second and third with no one out.  

Jake Viaene walked to load the bases.  

TJ Tamaccio was hit by a pitch and Brynn Martinez walked to force home a pair of runs and give the Hawks a 6-3 lead.  

Two more runs score before JC DeMuri blasted a two-run home run to cap the seven-run inning for the Hawks.  

This lead was more than enough as QU cruised to a 13-4 win in the nightcap of the doubleheader.  
 
Stat Leaders for QU:

Game 1 
Cody Birdsong: 2-4, 2 Runs
Troy Wehde: 2-4, 2 Runs, 2 RBI, 1 2B
Michael Nielsen: 1-3, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 1 Run

Brendan Saak (W, 1-0): 4 2/3 IP, 5 SO

Game 2
Brynn Martinez: 2-2, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 2 Runs, 2 BB
Cody Birdsong: 2-4, 1 2B, 1 3B, 2 RBI, 1 Run
JC DeMuri: 2-4, 2 HR, 3 RBI, 2 Runs

Brandan Moriarty (W, 5-0): 1 2/3 IP, 3 SO

Next up for the Hawks:

The Hawks travel to William Jewell for the final road trip of the regular season this weekend. 

QU's Record:

QU is now 28-12 on the season.