MASON, Oh. –The Quincy University baseball team used balanced play to pick up two shut out wins on Friday. The Hawks defeated West Liberty 7-0 and then bested Malone 6-0 in the second game.

Play by Play
Game 1
The Hawks were quick to strike in the weekend's opening game. In the top of the second, Jeff Hightower and Cole Evans both drew walks. 

TJ Tamaccio flew out to right field, and shortstop Carter Naughton hit a fielder's choice at third base for out number two. 

Nolan Snyder loaded the bases with a walk, and leadoff man Chandler Purcell drove home two runs with a single to put QU ahead 2-0. 

That score stood behind a solid outing from starter Aaron Stone. Stone looked to respond from a short first start last week in Mississippi, and he would do just that. 

The Hawks remained ahead 2-0 until the seventh. 

In the seventh inning, Cody Birdsong was hit by a pitch and given first base with one out. Michael Nielsen doubled to right center as Birdsong cruised around the bases to make the score 3-0. 

In the eighth, TJ Tamaccio got on with a one-out single. Carter Naughton hit a fly ball to right that was caught and unable to advance Tamaccio. 

With two outs, center fielder Nolan Snyder came up with a two-out triple to right that scored the Hawk's third basemen. Quincy held a 4-0 lead with six more outs to get. 

Stone tossed eight shutout innings with seven strikeouts and only two free passes. He exited the game with the Hawks leading 4-0, and he was replaced by freshman Jay Hammel. 

The freshman got a little insurance before coming into his first collegiate game. The Hawks scored three runs in the top half of the ninth to make the score 7-0. 

Three doubles were hit in the inning. Cole Evans brought in a pair of runs and Jeff Hightower brought in another run with his shot to left center.

Hammel faced four batters in the final half, and the Hawks took the win 7-0. 

Game 2
The Hawks were first two strike against the Pioneers of Malone. Two walks and a botched pick off attempt led to an unearned run for QU in the second inning. 

Malone had a good scoring chance in the fourth inning. Quincy got the lead off hitter for the first out, but Malone followed with a single. The next batter hit into a fielder's choice with the out coming at second base. 

Back-to-back singles loaded the bases for the Pioneers, but starting pitcher Riley martin worked out of the jam with a ground ball out to keep the score 1-0. 

In the bottom of the fourth, QU did its damage. Cody Birdsong led off with a single to center. Michael Nielsen doubled to right and advanced Birdsong to third. Malone walked freshman Lance Logsdon to bring up Cole Evans. 

Evans who had a 2 RBI double in the first game, came through again with another double to add two more runs batted in. The score was 3-0 Hawks.

Jacob Kalusniak drove in Logsdon with a single. With runners on first and third, Kalusniak was caught stealing second, but not before Cole Evans could score from third.  The Hawks led 5-0 after four. 

In the sixth inning, QU put another run across on an RBI single with the bases loaded by Nolan Snyder. The Hawks could not score further runs and held a 6-0 lead until the end of the game. 

Starting pitcher Riley Martin went six strong innings and allowed seven hits with five strikeouts and two walks. Martin was relieved by Jack Widhalm in the seventh inning, as he tossed a 1-2-3 inning. 

Jeff Hightower ended the day on the mound for the Hawks as he pitched the final tow innings and had four strikeouts. 

The Hawks moved to 4-1 on the season. 

Game 1 Stat Leaders
Chandler Purcell - 2-5, 2RBI
Michael Nielsen - 2-5, RBI
Cody Birdsong - 2-4

Aaron Stone - W (1-0): 8 IP, 5H, 7K, 2BB

Game 2 Stat Leaders
Nolan Snyder - 2-3, RBI
Cole Evans - 1-3, 2 RBI

Riley Martin - 6IP, 5K, 7H, 2BB

Next Game
Tomorrow at 10 a.m. CT against Malone