Quincy, Ill. – The Quincy University baseball team took down the Northwood Timberwolves on Saturday (May 20) for the Midwest Regional 1 Championship.
 
The Hawks offense lit up in the first inning with a Gino D'Alessio double. Dustin Dupont took a swing at the first pitch, then sent the second pitch of his at-bat just past the scoreboard, putting the Hawks up 2-0 on two batters. Luke Napleton walked and advanced after a throwing error from Lance Logsdon's line drive. Nolan Wosman found a pocket to get on, and Austin Simpson drew the second walk of the inning to fill up the bases. Joe Huffman sent the ball over the right center wall for the Hawks second grand slam of the season. The first run in broke the runs in a season record for the QU baseball program. 
 
The Hawks found some more offense action in the bottom of the sixth innning, when a bases loaded Brock Boynton single brought Austin Simpson back home. D'Alessio drew a walk in the next at bat bringing in Huffman to put the Hawks up 8-0.
 
Jay Hammel worked through seven innings, striking out five batters on 84 pitches and giving up five hits. The hits were easily cleaned up by the squad behind Hammel, keeping the Timberwolves' slate clean.
 
Chase Gockel relieved Hammel in the eighth, throwing a spicy 98 MPH. After the first batter walked, the second grounded into a double play sending both players back to the dugout. Gockel struck the final Timberwolf out looking to finish the top of the eighth.
 
Boynton drew a walk in the bottom of the eighth and zoomed to second on a wild pitch, putting him in scoring position. D'Alessio squeaked the ball through to center to bring Boynton home, concluding the Hawks scoring for the day. Cruz Meier pitched the ninth inning for the Hawks, and Boynton finalized the fate of the Timberwolves with a routine catch in center.
 
The Hawks win back-to-back regional championships and get to bring the NCAA Midwest Super-Regional to Quincy, Illinois. The Hawks will face off against the winner of the Midwest Regional 2 next Friday for a best of three series. The first game will be Friday, May 26^th at 3 p.m.