QUINCY, Ill. – The No. 8 ranked Quincy University baseball team split its doubleheader with Bellarmine University Friday afternoon (April 19). The Hawks used three home runs to win game one 5-2 and fell to the Knights in game two 12-5.
Game 1
The Quincy offense started off on the right foot in the series opener. Lead-off batter,
Chandler Purcell, sent a 1-1 pitch over the wall to give the Hawks an early 1-0 lead.
Cody Birdsong followed Purcell by hitting his 12th home run of the season which gave QU a 2-0 lead after the first inning.
In the top of the 2nd, starting pitcher,
Riley Martin worked around back-to-back one-out singles to keep the Knights off the board.
The score would stand at 2-0 until the bottom of the 5th inning. The Hawks got things started with a one-out double from
Nolan Snyder.
Chandler Purcell came to the plate with the runner on second and delivered his second homer of the day.
The two-run blast gave QU a 4-0 lead.
With the four run advantage, the left-hander from Salem, Illinois kept Bellarmine off the board in his final two innings of work. Martin finished his day by going seven innings, allowing no runs on five hits with seven strike outs and two walks.
The Hawks added a run on an overthrow at second base to up the lead to 5-0.
The Knights were able to get on the board in the 8th inning after a two-run home run. The bullpen was able to close out the game without further damage as Quincy took game one 5-2.
Game 2
The Knights responded quickly in the second game of the day. Bellarmine jumped out to a 1-0 lead after a sacrifice fly.
Quincy's offense wasn't able to get much going in their first two at-bats as the score remained 1-0 after the 2nd.
In the top of the 3rd, the Knights extended their lead to four runs after a two-RBI double and an RBI single to the right side. BU led 4-0.
The Hawks answered in the home half of the 3rd inning.
Chandler Purcell delivered a two-RBI single to bring the score to 4-2.
Carter Naughton and
Nolan Snyder scored on the play.
Bellarmine regained separation in the next inning. BU added three runs in the inning to make it a 7-2 score after the 4th inning.
Quincy's offense remained quiet until the 7th inning.
Nolan Snyder got his third hit of the game which allowed
Jacob Kalusniak to score. QU trailed 7-3 after seven innings of play.
In the top of the 8th, Bellarmine added two more runs on an RBI double down the right field line and a sacrifice fly-out which extended Quincy's deficit to 9-3.
The Hawks answered with two runs of their own in the bottom of the frame.
Jacob Kalusniak drove in
Lance Logsdon with a SAC fly, and
Michael Nielsen scored after an error at third base. QU trailed 9-5 going to the final inning.
Bellarmine sealed the game by adding three runs in their final at bat to push their lead to five runs at 12-5.
Quincy did not score in the bottom half of the inning as both teams left QU Stadium with a win and a loss.
The Hawks hope to continue their season-long run of not dropping a series in 2019. The three-game set with Bellarmine will conclude tomorrow at QU Stadium with a 12 p.m. first pitch.
Game 1 Stat Leaders
Chandler Purcell - 2-3, 2 HR (7, 8), 3 RBI, 2 RS, BB
Cody Birdsong - 2-4, HR (12), RBI, RS
Riley Martin - 7 IP, 0 R, 5 H, 7 K, 2 BB
Game 2 Stat Leaders
Chandler Purcell - 3-5, 2 RBI
Nolan Snyder - 3-4, 2B, RBI
Andrew Grieshaber - 5 IP, 2 R, 3 K
