Walker quiets Tritons as Hawks break single-season home run record in series opener

ST. LOUIS — A record-setting home run was all Spencer Walker needed.

After Luke Napleton launched a solo home run in the first inning Friday afternoon, allowing the Quincy University baseball team to break the single-season home run record, Walker followed with eight scoreless innings as the Hawks opened the weekend series against Missouri-St. Louis with a 4-1 Great Lakes Valley Conference victory.

Walker struck out nine, walked one and allowed just three hits. He retired the first seven batters he faced, used a strikeout to end the third inning with runners at the corners, and put down 13 of the final 14 batters he faced.

Two walks and a single allowed by Chase Gockel in the ninth inning gave UMSL a run, but right-hander Cruz Meier came on in relief and induced a double play and a strikeout to end the game.

Napleton hit a two-out home run to right-center field in the first inning, giving him an NCAA Division II best 22 home runs this season and the Hawks the 90th home run of the season. That breaks the 2016 team’s single-season record of 89 homers.

The Hawks have seven players with five or more home runs and three in double digits.

Adam Lewis cracked a two-run double in the fourth inning, and Napleton had an RBI double in the ninth to give the Hawks some cushion. 

Quincy (29-8, 17-4 GLVC) will square off with UMSL in a doubleheader beginning at noon Saturday.