OZARK, Mo. - The #1 Quincy University baseball team defeated #8 Lewis University in walk-off fashion to open up play at the Great Lakes Valley Conference tournament Thursday night (May 9). Michael Nielsen's RBI walk-off single in the bottom of the ninth gave the Hawks the 5-4 victory. 

Play by Play

Riley Martin set the tone early on. The second-team All-GLVC pitcher made quick work of the Flyers in the top of the first, only needing seven pitches to record the first three outs.

The Hawks threatened in the bottom of the frame. Michael Nielsen and Jeff Hightower both drew two-out walks, but a strikeout got the Flyers out of the jam.

The left-hander from Salem, Illinois rolled through the second inning to bring the Hawks back to the plate.

Designated hitter Joe Roscetti led off the bottom of the inning with a double down the left field line and advanced to third on a balk to get things started for the Hawks. TJ Tamaccio scored Roscetti with an RBI groundout to put QU up 1-0.

The Hawks added to the lead in the third. Cody Birdsong reached on a one-out single to center field, brining Michael Nielsen to the plate.

The junior first baseman from Bloomington, Illinois beat the Flyers shift by smashing a towering home run over the right field wall to put the Hawks up 3-0.

Martin kept the Flyers scoreless in the 3rd and 4th, allowing just two hits through four.

Quincy struck again in the bottom of the fourth. TJ Tamaccio reached on a throwing error by the third baseman with two outs in the inning. Nolan Snyder drew a walk to put two runners on for Chandler Purcell.

Purcell roped an RBI single to right field, scoring Tamaccio and extending the Hawks lead to 4-0.

The Flyers responded in the top of the fifth inning. The #8 seed used a one-out walk to get things started. The runner on first came all the way around to score after a single to right field took an awkward bounce and got to the warning track, cutting the QU lead to 4-1.

Martin recorded the next two outs to limit the damage.

The Hawks flashed some leather in the top of the sixth. Carter Naughton started a 6-4-3 double play with a smooth backhanded play to thwart a lead-off single.

Lewis pulled within one in the top of the seventh. The first two Flyer batters reached on back-to-back walks and scored on a two-RBI double to left center field.

QU's lead was cut to 4-3 and head coach Josh Rabe turned to his bullpen. Martin went 6 2/3 innings, allowing three runs on five hits and striking out four.

Reliever Dalton Overstreet entered the game and the Flyers did not give him a warm welcome. The next batter slapped an RBI single through the right side to tie it at 4-4.

Overstreet settled in and did not give up a hit the rest of the game.

Lance Logsdon led off the eighth inning with a double off the right center field wall to put the go ahead run on second. Cole Cimarolli entered the game to pinch-run for Logsdon. 

Roscetti reached base on a hit by pitch to put two on for Naughton.

The senior shortstop laid down a beautiful sacrifice bunt to advance both runners. The Flyers ended the threat after a hard hit line drive to the third baseman started a double play to end the inning. 

Overstreet came back out for the ninth inning and shut the Lewis offense down to bring the Hawks back to the plate. 

Nolan Snyder led off the bottom of the ninth with a double to deep left center.

Nielsen proved to be the just what the doctor ordered as he provided a walk-off RBI single down the right field line to score Snyder and give the Hawks the 5-4 win.

Stat Leaders
Michael Nielsen- 2-3, R, HR, 3 RBIs
Nolan Snyder- 2-3, R, 2B

Riley Martin- 6 2/3 IP, 4R, 5H, 4K

QU's Record
31-16

Next up for the Hawks
The Hawks return to US Baseball Park in Ozark, Missouri tomorrow night (May 10) to take on #4 Illinois Springfield. First pitch is set for 7:30 p.m.