ST. CHARLES, MO. – The Quincy University baseball team played with its back against the wall in an elimination game Friday (May 14) morning and won 8-0 over Missouri S&T.
Jacob Kalusniak reached base on a free pass to start the game, but then three consecutive Hawks were retired. QU Starter Spencer Walker tossed two scoreless innings while he recorded three strikeouts while just throwing 25 pitches to begin his outing.
Justin Eads led off the top of the third with a single to right field, but Eads was stranded at first as three Hawks were retired again.
Walker continued to cruise in the third as he retired the Miners in order. The Hawks got the first hitter of the inning on again in the top of the fourth and Nolan Wosman roped a single to left field.
Gino D'Alessio then hit a double to advance Wosman to third, and then Eric Tipton drove them both in with a two RBI single to left center field and the Hawks led 2-0.
Justin Eads then launched an opposite field home run to extend the Hawks lead to 4-0 in the top of the fourth. The four run, four hit inning propelled the Hawks in solid position.
Walker followed with a scoreless fourth and fifth inning to maintain the four run lead. In the sixth, the Miners infielder reached on an error, and then advanced to second base after a balk from Walker. Walker then induced two consecutive ground balls to end the inning and strand then runner in scoring position.
In the top of the seventh, Brock Boynton singled then advanced to second on a wild pitch. Jacob Kalusniak then singled to right field to drive in Boynton and the lead was 5-0 for the Hawks.
Eric Tipton then doubled down the right field line and Joe Roscetti followed with a walk. Brock Boynton then singled to right to drive in Tipton and the Hawks pushed their lead to 6-0. Kalusniak then followed with a walk, and the Dayson Croes came to the plate with the bases loaded and two outs in the top of the eighth and smoked a two RBI single to left field to make the score 8-0. This forced S&T to make its second pitching change of the inning, while the Hawks were still threatening with multiple runners on base.
Brandon Repking came in relief of Walker who tossed seven scoreless innings while just allowing two hits. Walker recorded eight groundouts, five strikeouts and issued just one walk. The Miners went 0-7 with two outs and 1-12 with runners on base against Walker. Walker totaled 101 pitchers, 68 of which came for strikeouts. Repking tossed a scoreless eighth inning, and Jay Hammel slammed the door shut in the ninth with two strikeouts.
Stats
Dayson Croes – 2-4 (2B), 2 RBI
Eric Tipton – 2-4 (2B), 2 R, 2 RBI
Justin Eads – 2-4 (HR), 1 R, 2 RBI
Brock Boynton – 2-4, 2 R, 1 RBI
Spencer Walker – 7 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 5 SO
Next
The Hawks will play Saturday (May 15) at 9:00 AM against the loser of Southern Indiana and Lindenwood.
