MARYVILLE, Mo. – The Hawks travelled west to Missouri to take on the Bearcats of Northwest Missouri State University for a single 3:00 p.m. midweek contest on Wednesday (Apr. 12). Freshman Aaron Smith collected the first win of his college career, throwing six strong innings of one run ball in a 9-2 victory for QU.

A leadoff single from Gino D'Alessio followed by Austin Simpson reaching base on an error by the left fielder found runners on second and third with none down. Luke Napleton drove in D'Alessio from third on a rbi groundout to the shortstop to put the Hawks in the scoring column early 1-0.

After a scoreless inning from Smith in the bottom of the first, Dustin Dupont lead of the second inning with a homer. An opposite field blast to left field on a full count put QU up 2-0 at the midway point of the second frame.

Northwest Missouri plated their first and only run against the Hawks starter in the bottom of the second. A leadoff single along with a fielders choice, advancing the runner to second, paved the way for an rbi single to make it 2-1 after two.

Quincy answered with a run of their own in the third. On base once again, D'Alessio reached after being hit by a pitch. A wild pitch and groundout put a man on third with one down. Napleton singled to the right side to drive in his second rbi of the day and replenish the lead to 3-1.

The Bearcats threatened in the bottom half of the third, working two walks to put runners at first and second with nobody out. Smith worked his way out of the jam, getting a double play and a strike out to strand the runner and end the threat in the inning.

A quiet fourth inning for both sides brought the Hawks to the plate for the fifth. An error from the shortstop put D'Alessio on base to leadoff the inning. Simpson took one for a ride in the next at bat. The longball to left gave QU a 5-1 lead. Later in the inning, four straight walks scratched another run across for Quincy. The rbi free pass for Joe Huffman propelled the lead to 6-1 after the Hawk half of the fifth.

Two more scoreless innings of work for Smith brought QU to the plate in the seventh. A single and a hit-by-pitch put runners on for a Brock Boynton rbi double. One batter later, with two runners in scoring position, D'Alessio singled to left field to score two more and make it 9-1 Quincy through the top of the seventh.

On in relief of Smith in the bottom of the seventh, Joe Byers got two groundballs and a strikeout enroute to a 1-2-3 inning. After a scoreless Quincy half of the eighth, Byers set the side down in order once again in the bottom of the eighth, collecting another strikeout in the process.

NWMSU scored a run in the last half of the ninth, but ultimately couldn't surmount the deficit as the Hawks came away with a 9-2 road victory.

The Bearcats of Mckendree University come to town for a GLVC conference series this weekend at QU Stadium as the home team. The contests were originally scheduled to take place at MCK, but, due to unforeseen circumstances the showdown of conference foes will take place in Quincy. First pitch for game one on Friday (Apr. 14) is slated for 3:00 p.m.

Stat Leaders
Austin Simpson: 2-4, 2 RBIs, 1 Run, HR, Walk
Gino D'Alessio: 2-5, 2 RBIs, 3 Runs
Luke Napleton: 1-5, 2 RBIs
Dustin Dupont: 1-4, 1 RBI, 1 Run, HR, Walk
Aaron Smith: 6 IP, Win, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 3 Ks