Quincy, Ill. – The Quincy University softball team played their home opener on Sunday (March 21) against McKendree University. Freshman Bailey Mitchell accumulated a total of five hits on the day and starting pitcher Mac Kenzie Collier struck out ten in game one, but it was not enough as the Hawks dropped the doubleheader to the Bearcats, 5-0 and 4-1.

Game 1
The Hawks attacked early in the game when Jayle Jennings opened the bottom of the first with a single to the middle followed by a single bunt by Courtney Kernich. Ashley Gerber hit the ball up the middle, but Jennings was forced out at third which slowed some of the momentum. The next two batters struck out to end the inning without a run. 

The Bearcats hit a home run to make it 1-0 in the third inning then in the fourth, the Hawks were victims of a double play to end the inning with the bases loaded. Quincy left two more on base in the bottom of the sixth and could not get the two-out hit needed to get on the board. McKendree delivered the final blow in their last at bat and scored four runs to put it out of reach. 

Mac Kenzie Collier ended the game with a total of ten strikeouts in seven innings and Bailey Mitchell went 3-for-3.

Game 2
Missed opportunities were a factor again in game two. In the bottom of the first, Courtney Kernich hit a single to center field and Bailey Mitchell got an infield hit which put runners on first and second. The Bearcats pitcher threw a wild pitch and that moved the runners into scoring position. That opportunity vanished when the last out of the inning was recorded on a ground ball to shortstop.

The Hawks tried their chances again in the bottom of the second after Chelsea Hooker hit a double down the left field line. She then moved to third with an infield single by Kari Sarhage. Hooker scored after a wild pitch gave QU a 1-0 lead.

Quincy went scoreless the rest of the way and was held to three hits in the remaining five innings. McKendree fired back with two runs in the third and two more in the fifth to go up 4-1 as the game ended by that score.

Bailey Mitchell went 2-for-3 in the second game recording a total of five hits in six at bats between the two contests.

Next Game
The Hawks will play a doubleheader against the University of Missouri-St. Louis tomorrow afternoon starting at noon (Mar. 22).