QUINCY, Ill. – The Quincy Hawks softball team won 4-2 and 2-1 over Illinois-Springfield on Tuesday afternoon as head coach
Carla Passini secured her 100th career win.
Game 1
The Hawks surrendered a run in the top of the first on an RBI single and UIS led 1-0 after the first inning. Quincy responded in the bottom of the second when
Ashley Poore had an RBI single to tie the game at 1-1. QU added two more runs on RBI ground outs from
Madeline Ruzicka and
Audrey Hermann, and the Hawks were in front 3-1 after the third. The home Hawks added another run in the bottom of the fifth when
Jayle Jennings singled to score
Bailey Mitchell, and Quincy extended their lead to 4-1. UIS hit a home run to center field in the sixth to cut into the Hawks lead at 4-2, but
Bailee Highbarger came in to get the save and recorded the final three outs with efficiency. This was the first save for a Hawks pitcher this season.
Mac Kenzie Collier worked six innings and scattered just two earned runs while recording six strikeouts. With the game one win, head coach
Carla Passini won her 100th game as head coach at Quincy University.
Game 2
Highbarger continued to throw the ball well in game two as she got the start. UIS scored in the top of the fourth to take a 1-0 lead on a solo home run which broke a 14-inning scoreless streak for the sophomore right hander. The Hawks tied the score at 1-1 when
Taylor Downen hit a single up the middle to drive in Ruzicka. The Hawks then walked it off for the second consecutive day when Mitchell hit a ground ball, but an error allowed pinch runner,
Emma Norton, to score the winning run. Highbarger tossed eight innings while allowing just one run. Highbarger tossed 16 innings over the past two days and allowed one earned run while picking up the win and a save as well.
Down the Stretch
The Hawks (15-19, 7-11 GLVC) have won seven of their past eight games and moved up to ninth in the current GLVC standings. The top eight teams make it to the conference tournament, and QU has ten games remaining on the schedule. Six out of the final ten games are at home.
Stats (Game 1)
Ashley Poore – 2-3, 1 RBI
Stats (Game 2)
Audrey Hermann – 2-2
Bailee Highbarger – 8.0 IP, 5 SO, 1 ER, 4 H, 0 BB
Next
The Hawks host Truman State this Sunday at home (April 18th) with first pitch set for noon.