QUINCY, Ill. – The Quincy University baseball team played host to #4 University of Central Missouri for a single midweek contest on Tuesday (Apr. 25) afternoon. The #13 Hawks fell behind early but used an explosive six-run seventh inning, highlighted by a
Gino D'Alessio three-run homer, to edge out the Mules 8-6.
UCM got to QU starter
Aaron Smith in the first inning. A walk and single put two men on with one out. Smith struck out the next batter before surrendering a two RBI double down the left field line to make it 2-0 after the top half of the first.
Quincy responded with a run of their own in the bottom half of the frame. A leadoff walk to D'Alessio followed by a wild pitch and a steal put the leadoff man 90 feet from home. After a strikeout,
Luke Napleton lifted a sac fly to right field, plating D'Alessio to cut the deficit to 2-1 at the conclusion of the first.
Smith held the Mules off the scoreboard for the next four innings. A leadoff walk in the second saw the runner gunned down in a steal attempt. A lineout and groundout ended the second inning of work for the Quincy starting pitcher. Smith was perfect through innings three four and five. Nine hitters came to the plate and nine returned to the dugout, featuring a strike out of the side in the third frame.
Meanwhile, the Hawks lineup was also held in check during that stretch. A leadoff single from
Zach Parks in the bottom of the fifth was erased by an inning ending twin killing to bring UCM to the plate for the sixth.
A leadoff walk, followed by a single put two men on to open the inning. Next, a double steal attempt from Central Missouri was snuffed out by Conner Simons behind the plate. The Hawks catcher threw a dart to third base to gun down the lead runner and collect the first out. Still in a dangerous spot with a man on second, a RBI single to left scored a run and spelled the end of the day for Smith. After a pitching change, the next hitter hit a two-run longball to propel the lead further to 5-1.
The Mules threatened again in the top of the seventh. A one out walk and HBP prompted another pitching change, bringing in
Cruz Meier to shut down the situation. After a walk to load the bases, the righthander got a huge strike out and a groundout to tightrope out of danger.
Lance Logsdon led off the Hawk half of the seventh with a single to center. The next hitter,
Nolan Wosman, got clunked to put two runners on.
Austin Simpson drew a full count walk to load the bases with no outs. After a flyout, Simons drew a walk to plate a run. A two RBI single from
Brock Boynton in the next at-bat drew the Hawks within one at 5-4 with two men still on base. D'Alessio took one for a ride over the left field wall in the next at-bat to round out a six-run inning and claim a 7-5 advantage after seven.
Central Missouri cut the lead in half in the next half inning. A one out double along with a two out single up the middle of the infield scored the sixth run of the contest for the Mules and made it 7-6 heading to the bottom of the eighth.
The leadoff man was retired to open the eighth for QU.
Nolan Wosman delivered some insurance in the next at-bat. A deep drive to left on the first pitch of the plate appearance got the run back and replenished the lead to 8-6 with three outs to get.
Chase Gockel came on in the ninth to close out the contest. The righty flamethrower surrendered a leadoff singled to make things interesting but collected a fly ball and two strikeouts to slam the door and preserve an 8-6 victory.
The Hawks are back in action again this weekend, playing host to the Panthers of Drury University for a four game GLVC series. The series marks the last home, regular season, contests of the year. First pitch for game one on Friday (Apr. 28) is slated for 3:00 P.M with Senior Day festivities taking place before the final game of the series on Sunday (Apr. 30) morning.
Stat Leaders:
Gino D'Alessio: 1-3, 2 Runs, 3 RBIs, HR, Walk
Brock Boynton: 1-3, Run, 2 RBIs
Nolan Wosman: 1-2, 2 Runs, RBI, HR, Walk
Luke Napleton: 1-3, RBI
