Bolivar, Mo. - The Quincy University softball team forced a split out of a mid-table Southwest Baptist University on Saturday afternoon (Mar. 29). Quincy's defense kept the Bearcats to just one run in a 3-1 victory in game one, but a pair of hits to the left side helped the Bearcats top the Hawks 4-3 in game two.
Game One
Quincy shut the Bearcats down quickly to start the game.
Kinsey Biggerstaff threw out a Bearcat stealing and
Kaelyn Conger struck out two batters to end the first inning unscathed. Despite getting a Hawk on the bags in the first two innings, the third inning proved prosperous for Quincy after the Hawks notched three runs on two hits.
Lindsey Fischer and
Isabella Shields loaded the front half of the bases after being walked and hit by a pitch. Biggerstaff moved them both into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt before
Kenzie Moss could load the bases with a walk.
Allyson Maynard and
Mykah Hurley each sent hits into left field, bringing in the trio on the bases for the Hawks lone runs of the game.
The Bearcats had ample opportunities to get a player across home plate in the middle innings, but the Hawks defense snatched them away. Quincy threw another runner out while stealing and took out the lead runner on a fielder's choice before taking care of a few short balls in the fourth inning to keep their lead. Southwest Baptist proved successful in the fifth inning, however, and got away with a one-run double to eliminate the Hawks' possibility of a shutout.
Conger threw all seven innings for her seventh complete game of the year. Four different Hawks put the ball in play for Quincy in game one.
Game Two
It took five and a half innings for either team to get on the board, despite a busy inning from the Bearcats at the start. Quincy's Moss dealt with a ground ball with a runner heading home and threw the ball in time for the out to preserve the zeroes on the scoreboard in the first inning. Southwest Baptist added four runs in the fifth inning, three courtesy of a double to left field.
Quincy went into the seventh inning needing four runs and came close to their mark with a three-run hit from Hurley. Hurley's hit went past the left fielder and to the wall, bringing in
Casey Fronheiser and Moss. Hurley came around on a throwing error, cutting the Hawks deficit to one run in one at-bat. The Bearcats' second baseman was crucial in the final two outs of the day, and Quincy walked away with a 4-3 loss.
Emma Stieferman and
Kaidence Dumas split the battery in game two with Stieferman taking the brunt of the labor at five innings pitched.
The Hawks look to rebound come Saturday with a doubleheader against Missouri S&T. The Hawks will host the Miners in a Strikeout Cancer Day with proceeds from their auction going toward colon cancer awareness.
