Stice, Hargrave combine to keep Hoots in check as Gems climb to within half-game of first place

QUINCY — Bennett Stice pitched five shutout innings after giving up two runs in the first inning, and Daniel Hargrave retired the last nine batters he faced to earn the save as the Quincy Gems defeated the O’Fallon Hoots 5-3 on Wednesday night at QU Stadium in a Prospect League game.

The Gems (3-3, 22-16 overall) are a half-game out of first place behind Burlington in the second half in the Great River Division.

Stice gave up a two-run single to Ryan Malzahn in the first inning, then quieted the Hoots on just four hits over the next five innings. Hargrave gave up singles to the first two hitters he faced in the seventh inning, then struck out four of the next nine hitters to earn the save.

Quincy scored a run in the first when Lucas Loos scampered home after Hoots catcher Noah Jouras dropped a third strike to Drew Townsend. 

The Gems took the lead with four runs in the fourth. Quincy loaded the bases after Bennett Eltoff doubled to right, and Tye Wood and Andrew Fay walked with one out. Loos drove in a run when he was hit by a pitch. Zack Stewart followed with a two-run single off reliever Carson Subbert, and Loos scored on a passed ball.

Quincy only had four hits outside of the fourth inning. Eltoff and Ethan Moore had two each.