Quincy, Ill. – The Quincy University softball team returned to the Mart Heinen Complex on Sunday to face the nation's No. 11 team, the University of Indianapolis. The Greyhounds took both games of the doubleheader as the Hawks dropped the opener 18-8 before falling 9-0 in five innings in game two.
Game 1: #11 Indianapolis 18, Quincy 8
Indianapolis wasted little time getting on the board, opening the scoring with a solo home run to right-center in the first inning. Quincy threatened in the bottom half after
Hannah Uhles worked a two-out walk, but the Hawks were unable to cash in.
The Greyhounds broke the game open in the second inning, using four hits and two Quincy errors to score six runs and extend the lead to 7-0. Quincy was retired in order in the bottom half and found itself playing from behind early.
The Hawks answered in the fourth with a spark of offense as
Kaidence Dumas and
Kenzie Moss each launched solo home runs to trim the deficit.
Samantha Farrell added a double later in the inning, and
Alexus Freeman followed by holding Indianapolis scoreless in the top of the frame to keep Quincy within reach.
Indianapolis responded again in the fifth, scoring seven runs to regain control. The Greyhounds managed just three hits in the inning but capitalized on four walks and a Quincy error to stretch the lead to 15-3.
Quincy continued to battle, responding with five runs in the bottom of the fifth to extend the game. After the first two outs were recorded, a pair of walks sparked the rally before Moss delivered again, blasting her second home run of the game, this time a three-run shot. Quincy kept the momentum going with three consecutive singles, as Farrell and
Lindsey Fischer each drove in runs with RBI knocks to cap a five-run inning and cut the deficit to 15-8.
The Greyhounds added three more runs in the seventh on a sacrifice fly and a two-run single to put the game out of reach as Indianapolis secured the 18-8 win.
Quincy used three pitchers in game one.
Haley Martin took the loss after working 1.1 innings and allowing seven runs on four hits. Freeman tossed three innings in relief and struck out three, while Dumas closed out the final 2.2 innings. As a staff, the Hawks surrendered 14 hits and issued 11 walks.
Game 2: #11 Indianapolis 9, Quincy 0
Game two followed a similar script as Indianapolis jumped ahead early. The Greyhounds scored twice in the first inning on a pair of RBI singles while taking advantage of Quincy errors to build a 2-0 lead.
Quincy struggled to generate momentum offensively through the first few innings while Indianapolis added to its lead in the third with an RBI groundout followed by additional run-scoring singles to push the advantage to 3-0.
The game broke open in the fourth when Indianapolis scored six runs on five hits, highlighted by two home runs and an RBI triple to extend the lead to 9-0.
The Hawks were limited offensively throughout game two and were unable to answer in the bottom of the fifth as Indianapolis secured the run-rule victory.
Hailey Platt started in the circle for Quincy and allowed six runs on six hits over 3.1 innings. Martin worked the final 1.2 innings and gave up three earned runs.
Quincy will look to regroup quickly as the Hawks return to action on Wednesday, March 18, when they travel to Parkside for a doubleheader beginning at 2:00 PM.
