INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – The Quincy University baseball team split their doubleheader with the Indianapolis Greyhounds on Friday (May 3). The Hawks fell 7-6 in game one, but responded with a 3-0 victory in game two.
Game 1
After a quiet first inning, the Greyhounds got on the board with a lead-off home run in the bottom of the 2nd. They led 1-0 after the first two innings.
Another run came home for Indianapolis in the bottom of the third inning. With the bases loaded,
Riley Martin got a ground ball, but the Hawks were only able to get the fielder's choice out at second. The score was 2-0 with runners on first and third.
A walk of the next batter loaded the bases with one out in the inning. The Greyhounds took a 3-0 lead with another walk before a double play ended the inning.
Quincy led off the top of the fourth with a single, but the next three batters were retired. The Hawks had just two hits through the first four innings of play.
Indianapolis extended their lead again in the bottom of the fourth after an RBI single made the score 4-0 in the Greyhounds favor.
The Hawks threatened in the top of the fifth. A pair of walks left two men on with two outs, and a passed ball allowed the runners to move to second and third.
Quincy was unable to capitalize as the inning ended with a strikeout.
In the bottom of the fifth, the Hawks turned to their bullpen. Right-hander,
Dalton Overstreet got the nod and worked a 1-2-3 inning to keep the score at 4-0.
Two walks with one out got things going for the Hawks in the top of the 6th.
TJ Tamaccio lifted a fairly deep fly ball to right field, and the runners looked to tag up.
The Indianapolis right fielder made the catch and threw out
Lance Logsdon who was trying to advance from second to third base. The double play outfield assist ended the inning.
In the home half of the sixth inning, the Greyhounds once again added to their lead. A bloop single with runners on second and third allowed both runs to score. Indy led 6-0 after six innings.
In the bottom of the eighth, Indianapolis delivered their final blow with a solo home run to extend the lead to 7-0.
In the top of the ninth, the Hawks got an RBI single from
Nolan Snyder to make the score 7-1.
Chandler Purcell kept the inning alive with a single which scored another run for the Hawks. QU still trailed 7-2.
With two outs,
Michael Nielsen brought in another run for QU with an RBI single of his own to keep the game going. The score moved to 7-3.
Things got interesting in the next at-bat when
Jeff Hightower blasted a three-run home run to right center. This made the score 7-6 as the Hawks cut the deficit to just one run after being down by seven.
Despite the six-run inning, the Hawks' comeback was cut short as the Greyhounds recorded the final out.
Game 2
Quincy carried their offensive momentum into the next game. The Hawks jumped on the Greyhounds in the first inning by collecting five hits and two runs.
Michael Nielsen and
Lance Logsdon drove in the two runs with RBI singles.
Nick Stroud took the mound for the Hawks in game two. He surrendered a lead off single, but he retired the next seven batters he faced.
The score was 2-0 after three innings of play.
After the early game fireworks, the Hawks quieted down offensively. Quincy was held to three hits from the second inning through the eighth.
With the offense slowed, Stroud managed to work around a runner on second base in the 5th and 6th innings to keep the shut out intact and keep QU in front 2-0.
The veteran right-hander needed just 99 pitches to get through seven innings of work as he tossed a 1-2-3 seventh inning.
Quincy was retired in order in the top of the eighth, bringing Stroud back to the mound. He recorded the first two outs, but fell into some trouble after a single and a walk.
Stroud closed out the inning with a strike out which was his tenth of the game.
In the top of the ninth,
Nolan Snyder and
Chandler Purcell hit back-to-back one-out singles. After a pitching change by UIndy,
Nolan Snyder came in to score when a wild pitch got past the catcher. Quincy led 3-0.
Going to the bottom of the ninth,
Karl Hirsch came in from the bullpen, but had a short outing. Hirsch hit the first batter followed by a double to bring the tying run to the plate.
Head coach
Josh Rabe made another pitching change and brought in
Sam Stephens. The left-hander recorded a fly out and a big strike out on a full count to give QU two outs.
Stephens got the last out to complete the game two shut out and give Quincy the 3-0 victory. It was the Hawks' 30th win of the season which ended a six game skid.
Game 1 Stat Leaders
Jeff Hightower - 2-5, HR (12), 3 RBI, RS
Game 2 Stat Leaders
Jacob Kalusniak - 2-3, 2B, BB
Chandler Purcell - 3-5
Nick Stroud - 8 IP, 0 R, 3 H, 10 K, 3 BB
QU's Record
30-15, 22-10 GLVC
Up Next
The series finale is set for 4 p.m. CT tomorrow (May 4).
