Strong pitching from Manship, Ruffner allows Hawks to earn 14th straight bid to GLVC postseason tournament

KIRKSVILLE, Mo. — The Quincy University baseball team earned its 14^th consecutive bid to the Great Lakes Valley Conference Tournament after sweeping a doubleheader from Truman State on Saturday by scores of 6-3 and 6-0.

Quincy will be one of eight teams at the GLVC Tournament at Mtn. Dew Park in Marion, Ill., from May 7-10. The tournament will mark the 45th GLVC baseball championship and the third straight year it will be held in Marion.

The Hawks finish the regular season with an 18-14 record in league play and a 25-25 record overall. Saturday’s sweep, coupled with Missouri S&T’s loss to Lincoln, allowed the Hawks to climb into sixth place. 

Quincy fell behind 2-0 in the first game, but Joe Huffman’s two-run homer to center, his 11^th homer this season, tied the score in the fourth inning. A Truman State error allowed QU’s go-ahead run to score.

Quincy then scored twice in the fifth inning. With two outs, Huffman had an infield single, and Jake Vitale singled up the middle. Huffman scored on a wild pitch, and Evan Davis singled past the shortstop to drive in Vitale.

A solo homer allowed Truman State to get within 5-3 in the sixth, but QU responded with a run after Byron Blaise drew a bases-loaded walk.

Kyle Manship tossed his first career complete game and earned his fourth victory his season. He allowed four hits and three walks while striking out five. Vitale and Huffman both had two hits.

Kade Ruffner was even better in the second game, throwing a complete game shutout and using only 71 pitches. He allowed two hits and one walk while striking out nine.

Quincy took the lead in the second inning when Cole Erickson had an RBI single, then scored four runs in the fifth inning. Two walks and a hit batter loaded the bases for Harry Fandre, who drew an RBI walk. Vitale contributed an opposite-field two-run single to left field, and JD Ortiz hit a sacrifice fly.

Isaiah Fudge hit a solo home run in the sixth inning for the game’s final run.