Box Score HARROGATE, TN – Quincy was back in action in Tennessee to wrap up a three-game series against the Railsplitters of Lincoln Memorial. Despite a ninth inning scare, the Hawks were able to pull away with a 6-5 victory for their first win of the season.
 
LMU got on the board first with an RBI single to left field in the bottom half of the first. Quincy went down in order through the first two innings, but a leadoff single from John Nisbet sparked the offense in the third inning. The game quickly became tied at one after a single from Matt Mateo for his third RBI of the series. Jake Vitale would come all the way around to score from second base after a throwing error from the Railsplitters backstop. The inning was capped off by a two-run double from Carson Moreno to push the Hawks lead to 4-1.
 
Despite giving up a run in the first, Hawks starter Ben Draeger would settle in and throw five solid innings, giving up two runs on three hits, two walks, and six strikeouts. QU struck for another run in the fourth courtesy of an RBI double from David Broughton, his first extra-base hit of the season.
 
The Quincy bullpen would enter in the sixth inning and get the job done for the Hawks. Logan Mueller would throw a scoreless sixth inning to go along with a couple of strikeouts. David Kelliher would make his second appearance in as many days, coming into the seventh inning looking to get out of a jam, looking to hold a 6-2 lead after a solo shot from Mateo in the top half of the seventh extended the Quincy lead. Kelliher worked out of the jam with just two batters, striking one out looking, followed by a 4-6-3 double play.
 
The Railsplitters cut the lead down to three after a base hit to right field off Kelliher to make it a 6-3 game headed to the final frame. QU would go down quietly in the ninth, looking to add insurance runs. The Hawks would go to Adyn Collins in the ninth to slam the door and get in the win column. Manship would quickly retire the first two batters, but the Railsplitters would load up the bases with a pair of walks and a base hit. Coach Matt Schissel would have to make the long walk out to the mound to use the sixth arm of the game. It was sophomore Kyle Manship making his second appearance of the season with the bases loaded and the go-ahead run at the plate. It was the heart of the order due up for LMU and nerves possibly playing an issue for Manship, as he sent two pitches to the backstop, allowing two runs to score and the tying run 90 feet away. Kyle gathered himself and put the Railsplitter's three-hole man down swinging for the first victory of the season.
 
Draeger earned the win after five solid innings, and Collins secured his first career save, retiring the final batter of the inning. The Hawks outhit LMU ten to six, led by a three-hit day from Mateo.
 
Quincy will have the week to gather themselves before they travel to take on the preseason #1 team in the country, and 2024 Division II Champions, the University of Tampa Spartans, with a three-game series beginning on Friday (Feb. 14) beginning at 6:00 PM EST.