QUINCY, Ill. – The #7 ranked Quincy University baseball team was handed back-to-back losses by Maryville University on Wednesday (April 24th). It was the first time the Hawks lost twice in a row since April 3rd.
Game 1
Wednesday's doubleheader started with offensive fireworks. The Saints opened the game by scoring a pair of runs on a two-run home run to right center field.
The Hawks had an answer to the Saints' first inning attack. Quincy plated a pair of runs in the bottom of the first inning as
Michael Nielsen laced a line drive off the left fielder's glove. This made the score 2-1 as
Cody Birdsong came in to score.
Another run was scored after an RBI single by
Justin Eads tied the game 2-2.
In the next inning, the Saints sent another home run over the fence to take a 3-2 lead after two innings of play.
QU once again had an answer. In the bottom of the 4th, with Nielsen on third base,
TJ Tamaccio delivered a single up the middle which tied the score at 3-3.
After a rough start, starting pitcher,
John Hurayt, settled in and kept the Saints off the board in four straight innings. Hurayt held the Saints scoreless in the 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th innings.
Hurayt finished his day with six innings pitched, three runs, four hits, and five strike outs.
In the top of the 7th inning, the Saints threatened. Maryville had runners on second and third with no outs. A run scored on a chopper to the third basemen as MU regained the lead 4-3.
The runner now on third came home on a ground ball to the short stop which pushed Maryville's lead to 5-3.
In the bottom of the 7th, the Hawks got the lead off man on base after a single by
Carter Naughton. Naughton advanced to second base after the ball got past the right fielder.
Nolan Snyder lifted a deep fly ball to center field but it was caught for out number two. Naughton tagged from second to third base.
Chandler Purcell brought him in with a ground ball to the right side to make the score 5-4. The Hawks still trailed going to the 8th inning.
In the bottom of the 8th inning,
Jeff Hightower led off with a single, extending his hitting streak to six games.
Michael Nielsen followed with a walk to put runners on first and second.
A strike out gave the Hawks their first out of the inning. In the next at-bat,
TJ Tamaccio lined a ball right at the third basemen which doubled off the Hawks' runner on second to end the inning.
Going into the Hawks final at-bat, the score remained 5-4 MU. The Hawks had runners on first and second, but were unable to scratch one across. Quincy dropped game one 5-4.
Game 2
Both starting pitchers cruised through their first two innings of work without giving up any hits to begin game two.
The Saints applied pressure in the top of the third inning. A double to left center with one out left men on second and third base. A bloop single down the right field line allowed both runners to score. Maryville had an early 2-0 lead.
The Saints added to their lead with a two-run home run just past the right field foul pole in the same inning. MU moved ahead 4-0.
In the top of the fourth inning, the Saints tacked on four more runs. A two-RBI single made the score 6-0 in Maryville's favor. The next batter sent a ball over the left field wall to give MU a commanding 8-0 lead.
That score would stand until the bottom of the sixth inning.
Cody Birdsong plated the first run for QU with a sacrifice fly to right center. Birdsong scored Snyder who led off the inning with a double.
Later in the inning,
Jeff Hightower continued to see the ball well at the plate and belted his 11th home run off the season. The two-run shot made the score 8-3 MU. Hightower extended his hitting streak to seven games.
The Hawks had a scoring opportunity in the bottom of the 7th inning. QU had runners on second and third with two outs, but the Saints squashed the threat with a sharply hit ground ball out.
Maryville delivered the final blow by hitting their third home run of the game in the top of the 8th. The solo shot extended their lead to 9-3.
That score stood as the Hawks dropped game two 9-3.
Regional Rankings
Before today's game the NCAA announced their initial rankings of the Midwest Region. The Hawks came in at #3 on the list behind the #1 seed Ashland and #2 seeded Wayne State (Michigan).
The Hawks were ranked #7 in the National Collegiate Baseball Writer's Association (NCBWA) before this evening's doubleheader. Wayne State was ranked #16 with a 29-9 record, and Ashland was #21 in the country with a 30-7 record. Both teams are members of the Great Lakes Intercolligiate Conference (GLIAC).
Next Up For QU
The Hawks will host their final regular season games at QU Stadium this weekend. Quincy takes on Lewis University on Saturday (April 27th) at noon and 3 p.m.
Game 1 Stat Leaders
Jeff Hightower - 1-2, RS, BB
John Hurayt - 6 IP, 3 R, 4 H, 5 K
Game 2 Stat Leaders
Jeff Hightower- 2-4, HR (11), 2B, 2 RBI, RS
Nolan Snyder - 2-3, 2B, RS
