Hvidsten has five hits to help Gems complete doubleheader sweep of O’Fallon

O’FALLON, Mo. — The Quincy Gems needed one day to leap from last place in the Great River Division of the Prospect League to a half-game out of first place.

The Gems swept a doubleheader from O’Fallon on Saturday night at CarShield Field, winning the conclusion of a suspended game 9-8 and then claiming a 6-4 decision in the regularly scheduled second game.

The Gems (16-17, 3-2 second half) are tied with Illinois Valley and Clinton in the Great River Division, all a half-game behind Burlington.

The first game, which started July 1 at QU Stadium, was stopped with the score tied at 4-4 and the bases loaded for Quincy in the bottom of the third. When the game resumed Saturday night in O’Fallon, Harry Fandre’s groundout scored Kyle Hvidsten with the go-ahead run.

Quincy added another run in the fourth when Joe Siervo homered. O’Fallon scored twice in the seventh to tie the game, but the Gems regained the lead in the bottom of the inning when Hvidsten homered to center field. Quincy added two more runs in the eighth when Hvidsten hit a two-out single to center, scoring Harry Oden and Harrison Blueweiss.

Tyler Gerdes earned the save, but not without a little trouble in the ninth. A walk and a one-out double put runners at second and third for the Hoots. A single by Tucker Platt scored one run, and Nick Harms scored when Drew Politte popped out to first base. However, Gerdes got Michael Long to ground out to Jack Zebig at shortstop to end the game.

Andrew Fay was the winning pitcher in relief, allowing six hits and two runs over five innings. Hvidsten had three hits and three runs batted in, and Siervo also had three hits.

Jake Syverson pitched three innings of hitless, scoreless relief in the nightcap to earn the victory. The Gems broke a 4-4 tie in the fifth inning of a seven-inning game to win.

With two outs in the fifth, Jack Zebig walked. Pinch-hitter Easton Mains then reached base on an error by Hoots shortstop Tyson Ludwig, and Zebig scored from first. Mains then stole second and moved to third on a wild pitch. He scored on an infield single by Fandre.

Quincy tied the score in the fourth at 4-4 when Luke Jessen singled, stole second, moved to third on Fandre’s groundout and scored on Siervo’s groundout.

Hvidsten had two of Quincy’s five hits and drove in two runs.