QUINCY, Ill. – The Quincy University baseball team won two different types of games on Saturday afternoon (April 6th) against the Miners of Missouri S&T. The Hawks banged 14 hits in a 10-2 game one win then won a pitcher's duel 1-0 in game two. 

Game 1
The QU line up started the series off with a bang. In the bottom of the 1st, Cody Birdsong and Jeff Hightower hit home runs to left center and right center. Birdsong's blast scored two runs and Hightower's homer to right center was a solo shot to give QU a 3-0 lead after the first inning of play. 

Starting pitcher Riley Martin threw scoreless frames in the 2nd and 3rd inning to keep the score at 3-0. 

In the bottom of the 3rd, the bats put together another big inning. Cole Evans delivered a two-RBI single to left field with the bases loaded to make the score 5-0. Lance Logsdon was able to come home after an error on the throw from left field. 

The Hawks were not done. TJ Tamaccio brought home Michael Nielsen with a ground ball out to the left of the shortstop. QU led 6-0. 

Carter Naughton rounded out the inning with an RBI single to center field which allowed Evans to score. The Hawks held a 7-0 lead. 

The left-hander from Salem, Illinois kept the Miners off the board in the next inning to bring the offense back to the plate. 

In the home half of the 4th, freshman Lance Logsdon drilled a two-run home run off the right field foul pole to make the score 8-0 QU. 

Catcher Jeff Hightower followed Logsdon's blast with a towering shot of his own. The catcher/designated hitter/relief pitcher added his second solo home run of the day to give Quincy a commanding 10-0 lead. 

The Miners added solo homers in the 6th and 8th innings to make the score 10-2. The Hawks closed the door in the 9th to win the first game of the series 10-2. 

Game 2
Game two was a much different style game as starter Nick Stroud battled Dalton Erger. The veteran right-hander worked around a couple of walks in the 1st to keep the Miners off the board early. 

Both teams combined for just three hits in the first three innings as the score remained 0-0. 

In the 5th inning, the Miners had a runner on 2nd base for just the second time in the ball game. Stroud stranded the runner there by getting a ground out to get out of the inning. 

The Miners looked to score in the next inning. Missouri S&T strung together back-to-back singles with one out. An unassisted ground out to the first basemen left runners on 2nd and 3rd with two outs. Once again, Stroud closed the door by striking out the next batter on three pitches to end the scoring opportunity. 

Stroud got through the 7th inning without giving up a run and left the ball game in a 0-0 tie. The offense came through for their starter in the bottom of the 7th. 

Third basemen TJ Tamaccio drew a one-out walk to get a runner on base. A strike out gave QU two-outs in the inning and brought Nolan Snyder to the plate. Snyder, who was 1-6 before the at-bat, connected on an 0-2 pitch. The ball dropped just past the right fielder's glove down the right field line as Snyder cruised into third with an RBI triple. 

That run proved to be the difference as Josh Rabe turned to his bullpen. Left-hander Sam Stephens came to the mound for the 8th and retired the Miners in order. 

In the top of the 9th, Stephens was called on for his second inning of work. The hard-throwing lefty collected two punch outs and sealed the 1-0 shut out win for the Hawks. 

Game 1 Stat Leaders
Jeff Hightower - 2-4, 2 HR (7 & 8), 2 RBI, 2 RS
Lance Logsdon - 3-4, HR (5), 2 RBI, 2 RS

Riley Martin - 7 IP, 1 R, 6 H, 9 K, 5 BB

Game 2 Stat Leaders
Nolan Snyder - 1-3, 3B, RBI
Cody Birdsong - 2-4

Nick Stroud - 7 IP, 0 R, 6 K, 3 BB

Record
23-7, 15-4 GLVC

The series will conclude tomorrow (April 7) at noon in QU Stadium