ROSEMONT, Ill. – The Quincy University wrapped up the Lewis Dome Invitational on Friday (Feb. 19) with matchups against GLIAC opponents Saginaw Valley and Ferris State. The Hawks dropped both games with a 7-1 defeat to Saginaw and a narrow 3-2 loss to Ferris State.
Game 1
The Cardinals of Saginaw Valley were receiving votes in the Division II NFCA polls this week despite Friday being their first games of the season. Quincy fell behind in the third inning after Saginaw scored on a triple to make it 1-0.
SVSU tacked on three more runs in the next inning to extend their lead to 4-0. QU had a scoring opportunity in the top half of the frame with runners on second and third, but they were unable to bring them in.
Saginaw Valley put the game out of reach in the bottom of the fifth behind a single, double, and triple which led to three runs. QU trailed 7-0.
Taylor Downen collected the lone RBI for the Hawks when she drove in
Kari Sarhage in the top of the seventh, but it was too little too late. SVSU went on to win 7-1.
Game 2
Quincy played the Ferris State Bulldogs immediately following game one, and the second game of the doubleheader was much more tightly contested.
Ferris State did their only damage in the bottom of the first inning by plating three runs. The first run came across off a passed ball, and the other two runs came after a single and a double. The Hawks trailed early, 3-0.
Despite the early offense by the Bulldogs, Quincy shut down Ferris the rest of the way. The Hawks out-hit FSU 7-5, and three of the Bulldogs' five hits came in the first frame.
Quincy's bats showed some life in the fifth inning.
Katelyn Gratza started things off with a single, but the next two batters were retired.
Courtney Kernich beat out an infield hit to keep the inning alive and put two base runners on.
Jayle Jennings stroked a single to left field and the left fielder mishandled the ball to let both Gratza and Kernich score. Amidst the chaos, Jennings was caught in a pickle between second and third for the third out in the inning.
Mac Kenzie Collier came in to pitch in the fifth inning to relieve Jennings and tossed two shutout innings while only allowing one hit and also recorded four strikeouts.
In the sixth inning, QU got a one-out double from
Chelsea Hooker, but were unable to tie the game. The next five batters were retired in order as QU dropped the finale, 3-2.
Stat Leaders
Game 1
Taylor Downen – 2-4, RBI
Game 2
Chelsea Hooker – 2-3, 2B, SB
Courtney Kernich – 2-3
Mac Kenzie Collier – 2 IP, 1 H, 4K, 0 R
