Hawks extend winning streak to five games, end 14-inning marathon with Fudge’s homer

QUINCY — The game took more than four hours and lasted 14 innings, but Isaiah Fudge gave the home fans a reason to leave QU Stadium with smiles on their faces Friday night.

Fudge hit a solo home run to right-center field on the first pitch of the 14^th inning, giving the Quincy University baseball team a 9-8 victory over Maryville in a Great Lakes Valley Conference game.

The Hawks (21-22, 14-11 in the GLVC) have won five consecutive games and now are in sixth place in the conference, one game behind Drury and 1½ games behind Indianapolis, with seven games remaining in league play. Maryville (25-18, 17-8) remains in third place in the GLVC.

QU had several heroes on Friday. Tom Cozemius pitched 6 1/3 innings of scoreless relief, taking over for Kobe Essien in the sixth inning. He allowed three hits and walked two,

The Hawks were behind 5-2 after 2½ innings but rallied to tie the score with a run in the third on Harry Fandre’s RBI single and two runs in the fourth. Both runs came on solo home runs by J.D. Ortiz and Matt Mateo.

After both teams went scoreless for eight innings, Maryville scored three times in the 13^th. Reliever David Kelliher struck out the first batter, hit the next batter and then walked three straight batters to force in a run. Logan Mueller came on to give up a two-run single as the Saints took an 8-5 lead.

Quincy rallied with one out in the 13^th. Ortiz hit another solo homer, and Jake Vitale hit another solo home to get the home team within one run. Back-to-back singles from Mateo and Ben Dahlof, followed by a double steal, set up David Broughton’s sacrifice fly. The Hawks eventually loaded the bases with two outs, but Joe Huffman hit into a fielder’s choice.

Mueller allowed two singles to open the 14^th but he got out of the jam without allowing a run, setting up Fudge’s game-winner. 

The series against the Saints will continue at noon Saturday with a doubleheader.