ST. CHARLES, MO – The Quincy University baseball team topped the top-seeded Illinois-Springfield Prairie Stars, 4-3, in the NCAA Midwest Regional in an elimination game on Friday afternoon (May 28).
Starting pitcher Spencer Walker surrendered a single to begin the first, but he got three consecutive outs to end the inning. Dayson Croes had the lone hit in the first at-bat for QU, and the Hawks left him on first after a strikeout and fly out.
UIS reached first base to begin the second inning on an error, but a double play was followed by a fly out to end the inning. The Hawks were set down in order behind two strikeouts in the second inning against UIS starter Chad Saner.
Walker recorded the first two outs in the third, but then a throwing error allowed Brandon Bannon to reach first for UIS. Walker induced a ground ball to record the third out and strand another Prairie Star base runner to end the top of the third.
Cole Evans was hit by a pitch to begin the bottom of the third. Evans then stole second, and Jacob Kalusniak hit a ground ball to the right side to move him over to third base with two outs. Dayson Croes came through with a two-out RBI single and the Hawks led 1-0 after three innings.
Both teams were held in check until UIS struck for three runs in the top of the seventh and knocked Spencer Walker out of the game with a 4-3 lead.
The Hawks wasted no time responding to the Prairie Stars. In the bottom frame, Nolan Wosman led off with a bomb to left center field to make the score 3-2 UIS. Pinch-hitter Justin Eads came in for Joe Roscetti after the Prairie Stars brought in a left-handed reliever. Eads smacked a double, and UIS walked three straight batters as the latter resulted in Eads to score. The Hawks tied the game, 3-3.
Croes followed suit by grinding out a two-strike at-bat and hit a sacrifice fly to right field. Cole Evans came in to score as the Hawks took a 4-3 lead.
Sam Stephens was lights out from the bullpen as the left-hander picked up the win. Stephens tossed the final two and a third innings and allowed just one hit while recording four strikeouts.
Stats
Spencer Walker – 6.2 IP, 6 H, 4 SO, 1 BB, 3 ER
Sam Stephens – 2.1, 1 H, 0 ER, 4 SO
Dayson Croes – 2-3, 2 RBI
Next
The Hawks will play the loser of Lindenwood / Trevecca tomorrow (May 29) at either 11:00 AM or 3:00 PM.
