QU baseball team begins weekend road trip by knocking off No. 8 Columbus State

COLUMBUS, Ga. — Although the Quincy University baseball team scored 25 runs in three games in the season’s opening weekend, Hawks coach Matt Schissel felt they could have been more efficient and opportunistic.

“We left a lot on the plate offensively,” Schissel said.

Despite being stuck inside all week by wintry weather, the Hawks were able to address some necessary changes.

It resulted in a 15-run outburst and the first-year skipper’s first take-note-of-this victory. Right-hander Spencer Walker allowed one run over seven innings and the QU offense scored in seven different innings to pound No. 8 Columbus State 15-3 in the first-ever meeting between the two programs.

“And I thought we did a lot better situational hitting today,” Schissel said.

The Hawks did hit their first home runs of the season with designated hitter Austin Simpson launching a two-run home run in the top of the first inning and catcher Luke Napleton hitting a two-run shot in the ninth.

The rest of the scoring came courtesy of moving runners over, putting pressure on the defense and being aggressive on the basepaths.

Napleton went 3 for 6 with three runs scored, while five other players had two hits apiece.

“That’s the kind of baseball that wins in the postseason,” Schissel said. “We’ve seen that the last five or six years. You have to manufacture runs without the longball. We’ve done a good job of that so far, and it’s a good way to start the weekend.”

Having your starting pitcher set the tone is even better.

Walker worked seven innings, giving up one run and six hits while walking three and striking out five. He threw 99 pitches — 65 for strikes — and relied on his defense to make plays. The Hawks turned a double play in the fourth inning and were errorless behind Walker.

“He got ahead,” Schissel said. “He said, ‘Here it is. Here’s my best. Give me your best.’ And he won.”

The QU coaching staff expects Walker to give the Hawks a chance to do that every time.

“He’s going to compete in the zone with everything he’s got,” Schissel said. “Even if he’s up in a little bit or down a little bit, he’s going to compete. You can’t beat that.”

Camp Point Central product Cruz Meier worked the final two innings, allowing two runs and two hits with three strikeouts. Both runs were unearned as a throwing error on shortstop Gino D’Alessio allowed both runs to score in the eighth inning.

Right-hander Brett Taucher and left-hander Griffin Kirn are expected to start in Saturday’s doubleheader.