SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – The Hawks made the short trip over to Springfield to take on the Prairie Stars of the University of Illinois – Springfield for a doubleheader on Saturday (Apr. 1) starting at noon. QU dropped the first contest of perennial GLVC powerhouses by a 9-3 score after a dooming sixth and seventh inning that saw UIS plate six runs. The Hawks offense exploded for 13 runs to take the second contest 13-6.

Game One

A starting pitching marquee matchup of two of the leagues finest, Spencer Walker and Chad Saner had their work cut out for them from the start. Saner struck out the first two Hawks he faced in the top of the first before surrendering a longball to Lance Logsdon to put QU in front 1-0 after the top of the first.

The Prairie Stars answered with two runs of their own in off of Walker in the bottom of the first. A double with two on and none out along with an rbi groundout propelled UIS to a 2-1 advantage after one.

After a 1-2-3 inning for Saner in the top of the second, Walker worked around an error by third baseman Joe Huffman, fanning the side to bring the Quincy lineup back to the plate for the third. Huffman answered the bell with a leadoff homerun to right field, get one back immediately after the miscue the previous inning, and tying the game for his squad at 2-2.

UIS responded once again, this time with a single run on a double, driving in the runner from first and pulling back out in front 3-2.

Both starters worked scoreless innings in the fourth and fifth, bringing QU to the plate for the top of the sixth. A walk and steal from Gino D'Alessio put a man on second for an rbi double from Lodgson to draw the contest once again, this time 3-3.

Springfield took over the ballgame in the sixth and seventh, plating three runs in each inning while holding the Hawks scoreless to break open a six run lead at 9-3 heading into the late innings. The strong work of the Prairie Star bullpen held Quincy scoreless the remainder of the game to secure a 9-3 win and 1-0 series advantage.

Stat Leaders:
Lance Logsdon: 2-4, 1 Run, 2 RBIs, HR
Joe Huffman: 1-3, 1 Run, 1 RBI, HR, Walk
Spencer Walker: 5 IP, 3ER, 8 Ks, 2 Walks

Game Two

The Hawk got on the board in the first in the shortened seven inning contest, plating two runs on a rbi single from Austin Simpson. A walk issued to Luke Napleton along with a hit-by-pitch for Logsdon, along with a wild pitch to advance the runners, allowed Simpson to put his team on top early 2-0.

In similar fashion to the first contest, UIS wasted no time in their response, answering with three runs in the bottom half of the inning to take a 3-2 advantage into the second frame.

QU plated another run in the second thanks to a rbi single from D'Alessio. The single scored JD Ortiz, who walked and advanced on a wild pitch before being brought in to score the tying run.

Springfield got three more runs in the bottom of the second inning on two doubles, a wild pitch and an rbi groundout to make it 6-3 after the first two innings.

The Hawks got in the scoring column again in the third. A leadoff infield single from Logsdon followed by a two run homer from Austin Simpson drew Quincy back within one run in the third at 6-5.

Chase Gockel came on for an extended relief stint in the bottom of the third, throwing a three up three down first inning of work. The hard throwing righty turn in three scoreless innings to bridge the gap into the late innings.

While Gockel kept the Prairie Stars off the scoreboard, the Hawks offensive unit went to work on taking the lead back. In the top of the fourth QU plated the equalizing run on a groundout to the right side by Napleton. The runner, D'Alessio, got on base with a walk and advanced to third on a stolen base and wild pitch before being driven in on the grounder.

Singles from Simpson and Zach Parks along with a walk for Logan Voth loaded the bases for a two run single from Ortiz to give the Hawks the lead 8-6. A sac fly from D'Alessio along with singles from Logsdon and Nolan Wosman rounded out a five-run fifth inning to make it 11-6.

Carter Endisch relieved Gockel in the sixth inning, working a scoreless frame. QU tacked on some insurance in the top of the seventh. A rbi single from Napleton and another from Ben Dahlof pressed the lead further to 7 at 13-6 heading into the final half inning.

Endisch worked another scoreless frame, striking out two in the seventh, preserving the win and drawing the series at one apiece.

The Hawks will be back in action Sunday (Apr. 2) for another double header against the top 25 Prairie Stars. First pitch for game one is scheduled for 12:00 p.m.

Stat Leaders:
Austin Simpson: 3-4, 2 Runs, 4 RBIs, HR
Luke Napleton: 1-3, 3 Runs, 2 RBIs, 2 Walks
Gino D'Alessio: 1-2, 2 Runs, 2 RBIs, 2 Walks
Lance Logsdon: 2-4, 2 Runs, 1 RBI
Carter Endisch: 2 IP, 0 Hits, 5 K's