Quincy, Ill. – The Quincy University baseball team finished their series against the visiting Drury Panthers on Sunday (Apr. 30). The exciting conclusion to the Hawks' regular season home campaign finished in eight innings, 16-6.
 
Jay Hammel got the start for senior day, striking out one and giving up one run in the first inning. Lead-off hitter Gino D'Alessio started the Hawks offense off strong, slugging his third pitch beyond the right field wall and well into the QU Football Stadium. Dustin Dupont was able to find a pocket in center to get on base, in preparation for Luke Napleton's 25^th home run of the season in the next at-bat. Napleton topped teammate Lance Logsdon's career home run record of 46 in just three years. Logsdon followed with a walk, and Austin Simpson sent a ball to left-center for a double. Seven-hole Zach Parks RBI'd to second base, bringing in Logsdon for the fourth run of the first inning.
 
The Quincy defense worked just as hard in the top of the second. Back-to-back home runs from Brock Boynton and D'Alessio gave the Hawks a five-run lead after two innings of play.  
 
The Panthers got back into the game in the third inning, adding two more runs to their side of the scoreboard and keeping the Hawks off of theirs.
 
In the fourth, Hammel struck the first batter out while Parks and Nolan Wosman had clean catches to retire the Panthers back to the field. D'Alessio found a pocket down the middle for a single and came running home after Dupont singled out to right.
 
Jay Hammel retired after five full innings of play. Tyler Carpenter came in for the Hawks in the sixth and with the help of his outstanding defense, kept the Panthers off the board. Quincy rallied again, sending five men to tag home plate. D'Alessio walked. Dupont forced a third baseman error to tally the first run of the inning. Wosman singled, scoring Dupont and moving Logsdon to scoring position. Simpson joined the home run party, adding a three-run homer for Quincy.
 
Drury responded well, adding two runs in the top of the seventh on two unearned runs. After a Drury pitching change, D'Alessio walked and stole second, setting Napleton up for a two-run homerun, putting the Hawks 14-6 after seven.
 
Carpenter was traded for reliever Chase Gockel who, along with teammates, limited the inning to just three Drury batters. The Hawks converted three hits into two runs, defeating the Panthers 16-6 in just eight innings.
 
Thirteen seniors were recognized today for their hard work and commitment to Quincy University Baseball:
Brock Boynton
Joe Byers
Tyler Carpenter
Gino D'Alessio
Chase Gockel
Jay Hammel
Lance Logsdon
Cruz Meier
Zach Parks
Nolan Roseman
Dayne Sebranek
Spencer Walker
Jase Wallingford
Nolan Wosman
 
Quincy completed their fifth series sweep this season, their third in conference play. The Hawks finish their regular season in Kansas City against Rockhurst in a four-game series.