QUINCY, Ill. – The Quincy University baseball team closed out a back-and-forth series with a thrilling 16–15 victory over Missouri-St. Louis on Sunday afternoon at QU Stadium, earning a split of the four-game set. The Hawks used a massive late-inning rally to overcome a five-run deficit and secure the win.
Missouri-St. Louis struck first in the opening inning, capitalizing on defensive miscues to plate two runs and take an early 2–0 lead. Quincy was held off the board through the first three innings before erupting in the fourth.
The Hawks' offense came alive in the fourth inning, stringing together six hits, all singles, in a six-run frame.
Isaiah Fudge and
Payton Mansfield each recorded hits to start the rally before
Harry Fandre and
David Broughton drove in runs. The biggest swing came from
Jace Figuereo, who delivered a two-RBI single as Quincy surged ahead 6–2.
Missouri-St. Louis answered in the fifth inning, using a two-run homer as part of a four-run frame to tie the game at 6–6. Quincy responded in the bottom half when Mansfield launched his fourth home run of the season, a solo shot that put the Hawks back in front 7–6.
The game continued to swing in the sixth inning as Quincy added another run on a sacrifice fly to extend the lead to 8–6, but the Tritons delivered what looked to be a decisive punch in the seventh. Missouri-St. Louis scored seven runs in the inning, taking advantage of free passes, timely hitting, and defensive miscues to grab a 13–8 lead.
Trailing by five, Quincy responded with its biggest inning of the game in the eighth. The Hawks erupted for eight runs on six hits, capitalizing on an error and stringing together clutch at-bats. Fudge, Mansfield, and
Byron Blaise all drove in runs during the rally, while
Ben Dahlof delivered the go-ahead RBI single to complete the comeback and give Quincy a 16–14 lead.
Missouri-St. Louis added a run in the ninth to make it a one-run game, but Quincy was able to hold on to secure the 16–15 victory.
Out of the bullpen,
Dylan Graw earned his first career win in a Quincy uniform, delivering a key outing in relief during the late innings. Mansfield closed out the game to earn his first collegiate save, securing the final outs of the contest.
Quincy finished with 17 hits in the game, with multiple players turning in strong performances at the plate. Dahlof, Figuereo, Fudge, Mansfield, and Fandre each recorded three hits as the Hawks powered their way to the comeback win. On the basepaths, Figuereo swiped three bases, bringing his season total to 21 stolen bases, which leads the GLVC and ranks 11th in the nation.
The Hawks will be back in action next weekend for a four-game series against one of the top teams in the GLVC, Illinois Springfield. First pitch of game one is scheduled for 2:00 PM on Friday, March 27th at UIS Baseball Field.
