SAINT LEO, Fl. – The Quincy University baseball team traveled over sixteen hours to Saint Leo, Florida to open their season against the Lions of St. Leo University on Friday (Feb. 14). The Hawks won the first game 5-4 with a play at the plate in the ninth inning, then fell behind early in a 12-1 loss in game two.
Game 1
Quincy went down in order to start off the 2020 season against the Lions.
Saint Leo got the first two runners on base after a throwing error and a walk, but starting pitcher
Riley Martin retired the next three batters.
In the top of the second,
Lance Logsdon recorded QU's first hit of the season with a one-out single to right center.
Joe Roscetti followed by getting on base with a walk.
QU was unable to capitalize following a strikeout and fly out.
Riley Martin sat down the Lions in order in the next half inning, but Quincy was also retired 1-2-3 in the top of the third.
Saint Leo got on the board first behind back-to-back triples with one out. Martin limited the damage and quickly got the next two outs.
The Hawk offense came alive and responded after falling down 1-0. In the top of the fourth inning, Quincy drew three straight walks with one out to load the bases.
Senior,
Cole Evans, delivered a single through the left side to tie the game 1-1 as
Tyler Carpenter scored.
The next batter,
Jacob Kalusniak, ripped a double down the third base line which cleared the bases. Kalusniaks's hit gave the Hawks a 4-1 lead.
In the bottom of the fifth, the Lions got right back in the game when a two-run double made it a 4-3 game.
Quincy added an important run in the top of the sixth after
Dayson Croes doubled to right center. Croes' double brought in Kalusniak to make it 5-3.
Things remained quiet on both sides until the bottom of the eighth. The Lions led off the inning with a double and a single. Junior,
Jack Widhalm, came in to relieve
Brett Taucher.
Widhalm got a line out to second base for the first out of the inning. The next batter hit a ground ball to first, and the runner came home from third to make it a one-run game, 5-4.
The next batter was retired and the game moved to the ninth. QU got a runner to second base with two outs but did not bring him in. St. Leo came up to bat in a one-run contest.
The Lions got a single to lead things off, but Widhalm struck the next two batters out.
Saint Leo came close to tying the game with a double to left center, but center fielder,
Nolan Snyder, scooped the ball and threw a laser to home plate. Snyder's throw was in time to get the runner trying to score from second base to end the game. QU won 5-4.
Jacob Kalusniak led QU at the plate by going 2-for-4 with three RBIs and a run scored.
Lance Logsdon went 3-for-3 with two walks and a run scored.
Game 2
The second game of the double-header was delayed about an hour because of rain.
Once play started back up, Saint Leo took control in the first inning after a lead-off triple turned into a fielder's choice and a run scored. The Lions gained the early 1-0 lead.
Quincy tied things up in the top of the third after
Joe Roscetti led off with a single. Roscetti advanced to second then third following a muffed throw and a passed ball.
Nolan Snyder brought him in with a single up the middle. The score was tied 1-1.
The flood gates opened for St. Leo's offense after an error on a dropped pop up to third allowed the Lions to start the inning with a man on second. A two-RBI double, a sacrifice fly, and a three-run homer led to a six-run inning by the Lions.
QU trailed 7-1.
Saint Leo added salt to QU's wounds with a grand slam in the bottom of the fifth inning to take an 11-1 lead.
The Hawks fell in seven innings 12-1 in game two.
Next Game
Quincy looks to win the series tomorrow with a single matchup with St. Leo at 1:00 p.m. ET.
