SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – The Quincy University baseball team used strong pitching performances in a sweep of #12 Illinois-Springfield on Wednesday (March 20). The Hawks defeated the Prairie Stars 4-2 in game one behind starter
Aaron Stone, and senior second basemen
Cody Birdsong drove in six runs during a 10-0 game two victory.
Game 1
Besides leading the GLVC in most statistical categories, UIS came into today's game ranked in the top 10 nationally in both batting average (4th) and slugging percentage (8th) through 18 games.
The Hawks were retired in order in the top of the first, and Illinois-Springfield looked to strike early. UIS had the bases loaded in the bottom half, but QU limited the damage by allowing just one run. UIS led 1-0 after one inning.
Quincy tied the score with an RBI fielder's choice by senior
TJ Tamaccio in the top of the second.
Michael Nielsen got things going again in the top of the 6th with a lead off double over the centerfielder.
Lance Logsdon sent a liner back up the middle to allow Nielsen to score. The Hawks took a 2-1 lead.
Cole Evans kept the momentum in QU's favor with a sharp single to left field. On the play, the ball went under the left fielder's glove as he attempted to throw out the runner coming home. Logsdon scored easily to give Quincy a 3-1 lead.
Evans quickly scored on a wild pitch after a pitching change by UIS. The Hawk's lead was extended to 4-1.
In the bottom of the 7th, Illinois-Springfield homered to right field to cut Quincy's lead in half 4-2.
Aaron Stone didn't let the home run phase him as he went the distance for the Hawks and held the Prairie Stars to two runs. The senior pitcher tossed his first collegiate complete game with two earned runs on six hits with ten strikeouts and four walks.
QU took game one 4-2.
Game 2
Quincy's bats started things off the right way in game two. The Hawks put up four runs off 4 hits and two UIS errors. Senior
Cody Birdsong sent a two-run shot to left field with one out to give QU an early 2-0 edge.
A hit by pitch, strike out, and walk left two runners on with two outs.
Catcher
Jacob Kalusniak singled to right field and Nielsen came around to score on an error by the right fielder. QU went ahead 3-0 with runners on first and third.
Third basemen TJ Tammacio brought in Evans with a single down the left field line to make the score 4-0 Quincy.
In the top of the 4th, the Hawks manufactured a run when Nielsen grounded into a fielder's choice with runners on first and third. The first basemen beat out the potential double play to allow QU to go up 5-0.
The Hawks broke the game open in the 5th inning. Quincy used a SAC fly followed by a grand slam to right center off the bat of
Cody Birdsong to take a commanding 10-0 lead. It was Birdsong's second homer of the day and his 7th on the season.
Starting pitcher,
Dalton Overstreet kept UIS off-balance and used his defense to keep UIS off the board through six innings of work. The right hander from Hannibal, Missouri allowed the Prairie Stars to reach scoring position just three times in his six innings pitched.
Jeff Hightower came in for the final three outs to preserve the shut out. Quincy moved to 15-4 and 7-1 in GLVC play with the win.
Game 1 Stat Leaders
Lance Logsdon - 3-4, 2B, RBI, R
Aaron Stone - 9 IP, 2 R, 6 H, 10 K
Game 2 Stat Leaders
Cody Birdsong - 2-4, 2 HR, 6 RBI, GS
Nolan Snyder - 2-4, 2 R
Dalton Overstreet - 6 IP, 0 ER, 5 H, 2 K
The Hawks return to action this weekend at QU Stadium as they take on the Missouri-St. Louis Tritons on Saturday (March 23) at noon and 3 p.m.
