SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – The Quincy University baseball team saw their hopes of winning a third straight conference title diminish on Saturday night. The Hawks fell to Bellarmine 8-4.
Play by Play
The Hawks were the visitors in the second game of the day. Quincy went down in order in their first at-bat.
Bellarmine threatened early as a lead-off single followed by a walk put two men on base. A fly out left the runners on first and second with one out, but the Knights were the first to break through.
Bellarmine snuck a ball just under the glove of
TJ Tamaccio down the third base line for a two-RBI double. The Knights led 2-0 after one.
Quincy had an answer in the top of the second. A walk of
Michael Nielsen led off the inning, but Bellarmine got an out at second base on a fielder's choice.
A ground ball to the second basemen's left allowed the runner to move to second with two outs.
Carter Naughton came up for the Hawks and delivered a two-out RBI to make the score 2-1 BU.
Bellarmine responded with another run on an RBI to the left side of the infield. They led 3-1 after two innings of play.
In the bottom of the third, Bellarmine plated another run as a double snuck just inside the right field line. The Knights held a 4-1 lead after three innings.
Neither team got on the board in the fourth inning as the tally remained 4-1 favoring Bellarmine.
The Hawks put together a rally in the top of the fifth inning to get back in the game. With two outs and a man on first, a wild pick-off attempt put the runner in scoring position.
An infield single in the next at-bat put runners on first and third with two down. A walk to
Cody Birdsong juiced the bases for QU.
Jeff Hightower delivered a base hit that dropped just beyond the first basemen and in front of the right fielder of Bellarmine. The Knight's right fielder misplayed the bounce which allowed all three runners to score. Quincy tied the game 4-4.
John Hurayt surrendered a lead-off single in the bottom off the fifth. The Hawks outfield had his back as
Nolan Snyder and
Chandler Purcell made catches up against the outfield wall. Hurayt threw up a zero to keep the game tied 4-4.
In the following inning, Bellarmine scored two runs with two outs to give them a 6-4 lead.
William Sanchez came in to get the final out of the inning. BU held a two run lead after six innings of play.
Both teams were held scoreless in the seventh as Quincy went into the eighth inning trailing by two runs.
QU was retired in order leaving them just three outs to rally.
In the bottom of the eighth, Bellarmine drew a walk to lead-off the inning. Quincy made a pitching change as
Andrew Grieshaber came into the game with a man on first and no outs.
A base hit and a walk loaded the bases with one out for Bellarmine. Grieshaber got the second out with an infield fly.
The Knights got another break as a ground ball hit off the glove of a diving
Carter Naughton for a base hit. Two runs scored as the deficit was extended to 8-4 going into the last inning.
The Hawks were unable to make a late rally as they fell 8-4.
Stat Leaders
Chandler Purcell - 2-4, 2B
Jeff Hightower - 1-4, 2 RBI
