Ninth-inning collapse costs Hawks opening game of crucial GLVC series with Saints

QUINCY — Brett Panick’s wildness, Maryville’s patience and an inopportune time for a letdown has the nationally ranked Quincy University baseball team needing to rebound.

The ninth-ranked Hawks took a three-run lead to the ninth inning Thursday in the opening game of a four-game Great Lakes Valley Conference series, but Panick was unable to close it out as the Saints rallied for four runs in a 6-5 victory at QU Stadium.

Coming on the heels of Tuesday’s shellacking at the University of Central Missouri, the Hawks have lost four of their last six games and will need solid pitching performances from left-hander Griffin Kirn and right-hander Kobe Essien during Friday’s doubleheader.

It’s what the Hawks got from their ace Thursday.

Right-hander Spencer Walker didn’t allow a hit until the fourth inning, surrendered one earned run and five hits over 6 ⅔ innings, and left after striking out seven and walking one. Cruz Meier recorded the final out in the seventh inning, and Eli Ecton worked a scoreless eighth.

The Hawks turned the game over to Panick, the flame-throwing left-hander who consistently hit 92-93 mph with his fastball but couldn’t find the strike zone.

Panic walked the first three batters he faced, going to a full count on each with two Saints fouling off strikes before drawing the free base. A sacrifice fly to center field followed, but the Hawks’ Brock Boynton threw to third base instead of second, allowing the potential tying run in Andy Bunton to move into scoring position.

That proved critical. Bunton went to third as Long scored on another sacrifice fly, and Bunton scored the tying run on Zeb Roos’ infield single. A stolen base and a throwing error got Roos to third, and he scored the go-ahead run when Matt Schuler’s single squirted through the infield.

Panick lasted two-thirds of an inning, allowing four runs on one hit with four walks and no strikeouts. He had struck out 11 and walked four in his previous six outings combined.

Quincy (20-8, 9-4 GLVC) was able to get a runner to second base in the bottom of the ninth, but Saints closer Ben Prywitch struck out Hawks catcher Luke Napleton to end the game.

Palmyra native Jacob Kroeger started for the Saints, and the junior left-hander allowed three runs and five hits over 6 2/3 innings, striking out 10 and walking two.

Napleton went 2 for 5 with three RBIs and his 16th home run of the season, while Austin Simpson jacked a solo home run for the Hawks. Schuler went 4 for 5 for the Saints (20-7, 11-2 GLVC).