QUINCY, Ill. – The Quincy University baseball team came back from an early deficit to sweep the weekend series against the Missouri S&T Miners on Sunday afternoon (April 7). The Hawks won the series finale 5-4. 

Play by Play
The Miners put pressure on the Hawks in the top of the 1st inning. A single and a walk put two runners on with one out. A deep pop fly allowed the runners to move to 2nd and 3rd with two down. S&T plated both runners in the next at-bat with a two-RBI single. 

Quincy got a run back in the bottom half. A walk of the lead off hitter Justin Eads followed by back-to-back singles from Cody Birdsong and Lance Logsdon loaded the bases with no outs. Jeff Hightower scored Eads on a RBI sacrifice fly. The score was 2-1 after the first inning of play. 

In the top of the 3rd, the Miners pushed another run across on a bases loaded walk. S&T led 3-1. 

After the walked in run, starting pitcher Aaron Stone settled in. In the 4th, 5th, and 6th innings Stone allowed just one hit. 

QU's offense came alive in the bottom of the 4th inning to give the home team the momentum. Michael Nielsen led off the inning with a sharp single to center. Cole Evans lifted a deep fly ball to the warning track in center, but it was caught for out number one. Nielsen decided to test the center fielder and tagged up from first base. He slid into 2nd safely to move into scoring position. 

A walk by TJ Tamaccio and a fly out left men on 1st and 2nd with two outs. Nolan Snyder scored Nielsen on a single up the middle to make the score 3-2. 

Justin Eads brought the Hawks even with another RBI single which scored Tamaccio. The score was notched 3-3. 

The Hawks plated the go-ahead runs in the bottom of the 6th. Once again the Quincy line up was down to two outs, but was able to produce. Eads singled for his second hit of the day to put a runner on. Cody Birdsong came to the plate and sent a 2-1 pitch over the left center wall for his 10th home run of the season. The Hawks led 5-3 after six. 

Jay Hammel came in for Aaron Stone in the 7th inning. The freshman right-hander tossed a scoreless 7th, and came back to the mound in the 8th. 

The Miners moved within one run after an over-throw to first base by Hammel allowed a run to score. QU led 5-4. 

Quincy was unable to add any insurance runs, but Karl Hirsch came in for the save opportunity in the 9th inning. The side-winding righty made quick work of the Miners and secured the series sweep with a 1-2-3 inning. 

Stat Leaders
Cody Birdsong - 3-5, HR (10), 2 RBI, RS
Justin Eads - 2-4, RBI, 2 RS, BB

Aaron Stone - 6 IP, 7 H, 3 R, 3 K, 4 BB

Record
24-7, 16-4

The Hawks will head to Truman State for a single midweek game on Tuesday (April 9). First pitch is slated for 12 p.m.