KISSIMMEE, Fl. – The Quincy University softball team split its doubleheader with LIU Post and Shepherd University Saturday (Mar. 9). The Hawks were defeated by the Pioneers 5-0 before bouncing back to defeat the Rams 5-4.
Game 1
Through the first two innings of the game, both teams remained silent as just four runners were left on base.
LIU Post struck first in the top of third inning.
A walk and back-to-back singles allowed the Pioneers to take a 1-0 lead with two outs.
Sara Demuth struck out the next hitter to get the Hawks out of the inning.
The Pioneers scored two more in the top of the fourth inning to extend the lead to 3-0.
QU's offense was held to just one hit in the first game of the doubleheader.
The Hawks best opportunity to score came in the bottom of the fifth inning.
Remi Ferguson led off with a walk and advanced to second on a sacrifice by
Jessica Poore.
Two foul outs would end the Hawks threat.
LIU Post would score two more runs to defeat the Hawks 5-0.
Demuth went seven innings, allowing five runs on ten hits and striking out four.
Game 2
The Hawks got out to a quick start in the second game of the day.
Courtney Kernich led the game off with a double to right center field.
Remi Ferguson would follow with a deep home run to left field giving QU an early 2-0 lead.
Morgan Tanksley worked a quick bottom of the inning to keep the Rams scoreless through one.
Shepherd would score one in the bottom of the second to cut the Hawks lead to 2-1.
The Rams would add another in the next inning to tie the game at 2-2.
With two runners on in the bottom of the fourth inning,
Mac Kenzie Collier came into the game and shut down the Rams offense to get out of the jam.
Tanksley went 3 1/3 innings, allowing two runs on six hits and three strikeouts.
The Hawks would strike again in the fifth.
Katelyn Gratza would reach on a fielder's choice and
Courtney Kernich followed with a single to put runners on first and second.
Gratza and Kernich would score on a Ferguson double to right center field, allowing the Hawks to re-take the lead at 4-2.
Ferguson would score what would be the winning run on a
Kylie Powers single. The score sat in QU's favor at 5-2.
The Rams would use a two-run home run in the bottom of fifth to the cut the lead to 5-4.
Alex DeVaney led the Hawks to the last two outs of the game after relieving an injured Collier. The Hawks would defeat the Rams by a final score 5-4.
Game 1 Stat Leaders
Kay Bettendorf - 1-3
Sara Demuth - 7 IP, 5R, 10H, 4K
Game 2 Stat Leaders
Remi Ferguson - 2-3, HR, 2B, 4 RBIs
Courtney Kernich - 2-4, 2R, 2B
Mac Kenzie Collier - 3IP, 2R, 4H, 2K
QU's Record
6-6
The Hawks return to the field Monday (Mar. 11) for a doubleheader against Bemidji State (9:45 a.m.) and Northwood (12 p.m.).
