QUINCY, Ill. – The Quincy University baseball team played host to the Warriors of Wayne State University for game two of the NCAA Midwest Regional Tournament held at QU Stadium. The Hawks used 18 hits including seven homers to overpower the Warriors in an 18-8 victory. All seven QU longballs came from just three players:
Gino D'Alessio with three, along with
Austin Simpson and
Nolan Wosman with two apiece.
Both teams were unsuccessful in their first scoring attempts, bringing Wayne State to the plate for their second at-bat. Looking to stave off elimination after a demoralizing, late-inning, loss to Northwood University in game one, the Warriors hung a six spot in the second frame. Five singles, two doubles and a walk lifted WSU to a 6-0 advantage through an inning and a half.
As they often have this year, the Hawks had an immediate response in the bottom of the second. After two quick outs, a walk from
Ben Dahlof put a man on for a RBI double from
Brock Boynton. D'Alessio lifted his first homer of the day, a two-run blast, in the next at-bat to make it 6-3 after the second frame.
After being ambushed in the second frame, QU starter
Spencer Walker settled back in for the third, retiring the side in order.
The goose egg from Walker in the top half was all the motivation Quincy needed to push the issue further in the bottom of the third. A leadoff single from
Lance Logsdon followed by a walk to Wosman put two men on for a three-run big fly from Simpson to left, drawing the contest at 6-6 with none down in the frame. Dahlof reached on a one-out single but was cut down in a fielder's choice before D'Alessio connected with his second homerun of the day to plate two more and make it 8-6. A walk from
Dustin Dupont in the next AB followed by a single to left along with fielding error scored another giving Quincy a 9-6 lead after three.
Neither side got in the scoring column in the fourth, bringing Walker out for his fifth inning of work. Two singles and a walk loaded the bases for WSU with none down. Walker bared down, allowing just one run to come of the situation on a sacrifice fly, keeping his team in front 9-7 through four and a half.
The Hawks responded again, this time busting open a five spot in the fifth to press the lead to 14-7. With two men down in the inning, Dupont laced a double to left center. A walk from
Luke Napleton, followed by a passed ball put two runners in scoring position.
Lance Logsdon poked a two RBI single through the right side to plate both runners. Back-to-back jacks from Wosman and Simpson followed to swell the lead to seven through five frames.
Wayne State scored another run in the top of the sixth inning on a single, walk and double to plate its final run of the contest and make it 14-8.
Four more runs for Quincy in the bottom of the sixth concluded the scoring. A one-out, solo homer from D'Alessio, good for his third of the contest, made it 15-8. A single from Dupont, along with a RBI double from Logsdon followed by a RBI single from Wosman pressed the lead to double digits at 18-8.
After coming on to diffuse a situation in the top of the sixth,
Nolan Roseman worked a scoreless seventh frame.
Carter Endisch came on in relief of Roseman in the eighth, tossing the final two scoreless frames with three strikeouts to finish off the 18-8 opening round victory.
Now that Wayne State has been eliminated, the Hawks find themselves in a best-of-three scenario with today's other winner, Northwood University. Both teams enter tomorrow's 12:00 p.m. contest 1-0 in the double elimination regional tournament, looking for two wins to secure a trip to the NCAA Midwest Super Regional Tournament.
Stat Leaders:
Gino D'Alessio: 3-6, 3 Runs, 5 RBIs, 3 HRs
Nolan Wosman: 3-4, 3 Runs, 4 RBIs, 2 HRs, Walk
Austin Simpson: 2-5, 2 Runs, 4 RBIs, 2 HRs
Lance Logsdon: 3-4, 3 Runs, 3 RBIs, Walk
Carter Endisch: 2 IP, 0 Runs, 1 Hit, 3 Ks,
