QUINCY, Ill. – The Quincy University softball team fell 5-0 in game one and won 4-3 in game two against the Lewis Flyers on Monday (April 12) afternoon at home.
Game 1
Lewis had multiple hits in the first inning, but QU starter
Mac Kenzie Collier stranded the runners with a pair of strikeouts.
Ashley Gerber had a knock in the bottom of the first, but she was caught stealing to end the inning. Lewis stormed ahead with three runs in the second inning highlighted by a two-run home run to left field and Lewis led 3-0 after the second. Lewis added two more runs in the fifth inning to hold a 5-0 advantage. This knocked Collier out of the game, and
Bailee Highbarger retired six consecutive Flyers to finish the game for the Hawks despite falling 5-0. Offensively, QU only totaled four hits: two from Gerber, and one each from
Taylor Downen and
Courtney Kernich.
Game 2
Highbarger got the start in game two and picked up where she left off in game one. Highbarger tossed five scoreless innings to begin the game, but the Hawks were shut down as well. After two hits to lead off the sixth for Lewis, QU went to
Jayle Jennings out of the bullpen. Two bunts, an error, and an RBI single allowed three Flyers to score in the inning and the Hawks trailed 3-0 in the top of the sixth. Highbarger wasn't tagged with any earned runs because of the error and notched three strikeouts while scattering ten hits during the five inning performance.
Bailey Mitchell gave Quincy back some momentum after she hammered a solo home run on the first pitch of the bottom of the sixth. QU trailed 3-1.
The Hawks came to the plate in the bottom of the seventh and
Casey Brennan and
Taylor Downen both singled to reach base safely. Then Mitchell came to the plate as the Hawks last chance in the bottom of the seventh with two outs. The freshman smoked a double to the center field wall and drove both runners in and tied the game at 3-3. Kernich then came to the plate and battled with Mitchell at second base as the winning run, but was retired to force extra innings.
Lewis reached base on a hit and error, but the top of the eighth was ended on a double play.
Ashley Poore singled up the middle to lead off the eighth, and then Jennings bunted to move Poore into scoring position. Herman walked, and then Brennan grounded out to second to end the eighth inning. However, in the bottom of the ninth
Bailey Mitchell walked, and then Kernich reached on an error. Poore came back up to the plate with two outs and hit a walkoff single into right field to score Mitchell and the Hawks won 4-3.
Stats (Game 1)
Ashley Gerber – 2-3
Stats (Game 2)
Jayle Jennings – 3-3 (2B)
Taylor Downen – 3-5
Bailey Mitchell – 2-4 (2B, HR), 2R, 3RBI, 1BB
Ashley Poore – 2-5, 1 RBI
Next
The Hawks will host UIS tomorrow (April 12) at 1:00 PM and 3:00 PM.
