Hawks move into sixth-place tie in GLVC after completing four-game sweep of Lincoln

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — The Quincy University baseball team completed a four-game sweep of Lincoln University on Friday with victories by scores of 5-4 and 11-1 in Great Lakes Valley Conference play.

The Hawks (20-22, 13-11 in the GLVC) are now tied with Missouri S&T for sixth place in league play, and they are one game behind fifth place Drury.

For the third consecutive game, the Hawks scored in the top of the first. Byron Blaise drew a bases-loaded walk, and Isaiah Fudge had an RBI groundout. QU added three runs in the fourth thanks to an error and back-to-back two-out run-scoring doubles from David Broughton and Harry Fandre. 

Starter Roman Harrison didn’t allow a run until giving up a two-run homer in the sixth. 

Reliever Seth West failed to record an out in the seventh, and the Blue Tigers loaded the bases with two walks and an error. David Kelliher came in and recorded a strikeout, then induced a groundball that scored a run. Kelliher then hit a batter to reload the bases and hit another batter to force in a run. However, a lineout to first base ended the game.

Kade Ruffner started the second game for the Hawks and allowed a solo homer in the bottom of the first to give the Blue Tigers their only lead of the four-game series. However, Jake Vitale blasted blasted a two-run homer in the top of the second.

Joe Huffman hit his ninth homer this spring in the third, and Ben Dahlof hit a two-run homer in the fourth. The Hawks then scored six runs in the seventh. Huffman hit another home run, a two-run blast. Matt Mateo drove in his 47th run this spring when he was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, and Dahlof hit a two-run double. Broughton finished the frame with a sacrifice fly, extending his RBI count to a team-best 49.

Ruffner earned the victory, allowing one hit and walk in four scoreless innings after the first inning. He struck out a career-high nine batters.

Chase Golden allowed a single and a walk in a scoreless sixth. Logan Mueller walked one and recorded two outs in the seventh before Brett Panick came in. He walked a batter and then recorded a strikeout to end the game.

Quincy will be at home next weekend against Maryville for a four-game series. The Saints are 25-16 and in third place in the GLVC with a 17-7 record.