ST. LOUIS, Mo. - The Hawks opened a four-game set with the Saints of Maryville with game one on Friday (Mar. 15) in St. Louis. The bats managed only four hits scoring three runs but remained in it thanks to another solid pitching performance from Griffin Kirn before conceding a pair of homers in the eighth to drop the opener 5-3. 

The first four innings of play were quiet and quick with Kirn facing the minimum through three innings while collecting three strikeouts. Quincy picked up a single from Joe Huffman in the third while Maryville picked up its first on a single in the fourth. 

The pitchers duel hit a halt in the mid innings with MU plating three runs in the bottom of the fifth. Four hits and a pair of walks chased Kirn from the game and put the Saints ahead 3-0. The next half inning, QU used a one-out single from David Broughton, a HBP for Brock Boynton and a three-run jack from Dustin Dupont to even the score and get Kirn off the hook. 

Kyle Manship worked a pair of scoreless innings after coming on in the fifth while the Hawks offense was unable to put a run across. After halting a bases loaded threat from Quincy in the top of the eighth, the Saints left the yard twice in the bottom half of the inning to lead 5-3. 

QU didn't go down without a fight, getting a one-out double from Michael Alvarez and a walk from Huffman to bring the winning run to the plate, but fell short in the end to conclude the ballgame. 

The Hawks are back in action again tomorrow for a twin bill of seven inning contests against the Saints. First pitch of game one is slated for noon from Weber Field.