SMYRNA, Tenn. – Quincy opened the 2026 season with a split against Kentucky Wesleyan on Saturday, dropping a 7–6 decision in game one after a three-run seventh inning by the Panthers before bouncing back with a dominant 15–6, five-inning victory to close out the day.

Game One

Quincy's offense came out swinging early as the Hawks and Panthers traded runs in the opening inning. Kentucky Wesleyan struck first with two runs, but Quincy answered with three of its own as Kaidence Dumas provided the spark, launching her first career home run—a three-run shot that brought home Kinsey Biggerstaff and Kenzie Moss.

The Hawks kept the bats hot in the second inning, adding two more runs. Biggerstaff was hit by a pitch to reach base, setting the stage for Dumas' second plate appearance. Dumas recorded her second hit of the afternoon with a double to left-center, advancing Biggerstaff to third. Black Hawk College transfer Hailee Irby followed with her first hit in a QU uniform, driving in both runners with a single to right field to give Quincy a 5–2 lead. Quincy's defense followed with a strong third frame, holding the Panthers scoreless.

Kentucky Wesleyan trimmed the deficit to two runs, but Quincy responded in the bottom of the third. Lindsey Fischer was hit by a pitch, stole second for her first stolen base of the season, and later scored when Casey Fronheiser singled to center for an RBI, extending the Hawks' lead to 6–4.

Both defenses locked in over the fourth and fifth innings, as neither team allowed a run. Quincy left one runner on base during the stretch.

Dumas continued her standout performance in the sixth inning, tripling to left field in her third plate appearance and moving one hit shy of the cycle. Quincy stranded two runners in scoring position in the frame.

The Panthers' bats came alive in the seventh inning, scoring three runs off two doubles to complete the comeback and secure the 7–6 victory.

The Hawks recorded the game's only home run, courtesy of Dumas. Quincy left eight runners on base, committed two errors that allowed three unearned runs, and drew eight walks in the contest.

Dumas led the Hawks, going 3-for-4 with a double, triple, and home run, finishing one hit shy of the cycle. Irby paced Quincy with two RBIs, while Makala Koozer reached base three times via walks in her collegiate debut.

Game Two

Quincy jumped out early and never looked back in game two, using a seven-run second inning to seize control. Biggerstaff sparked the rally with a bases-clearing triple that brought home Samantha Farrell, Fischer, and Karlie Ingle. Koozer followed with the first extra-base hit of her career, driving in a run with a triple of her own. Dumas stayed hot at the plate with an RBI single, Kenzie Moss added another RBI knock, and a bases-loaded walk from Fischer in her second at-bat of the inning capped the outburst.

Kentucky Wesleyan responded with five runs on five hits, including three for extra bases, but the Hawks quickly regained momentum in the third. After a leadoff walk by Biggerstaff, an error plated another Quincy run, and Emma Stieferman drove in a pair with a double to stretch the lead. Moss later added her second RBI of the game with a sacrifice fly, while the Panthers were held scoreless and left two runners stranded.

Quincy continued to apply pressure at the plate, drawing a bases-loaded walk from Fronheiser before Kentucky Wesleyan scratched across a run on an RBI single. The Hawks put the game out of reach in the fifth inning, scoring three more runs on RBI hits from Farrell and Stieferman, along with an RBI fielder's choice from Dumas. Farrell's hit marked her first career RBI and first career multi-hit performance, as Quincy built a 15–6 advantage.

In her first collegiate appearance, Haley Martin went the distance in the circle, working around a leadoff double in the final inning to earn her first career victory. Martin allowed six runs on 10 hits, walked two, and struck out three. Offensively, Quincy totaled 14 hits, saw four players record multi-hit games, and drew 10 walks to power the run-rule victory.

Quincy will be back in action tomorrow with a 10:30 AM matchup against Tiffin, followed by a 12:30 PM contest versus Ashland.