Hammel’s first-pitch dominance takes pressure off bullpen, shuts down Timberwolves

Quincy University right-hander Jay Hammel delivers a pitch during Saturday's game against Northwood in the NCAA Division II Midwest Regional at QU Stadium. | Photo courtesy Olivia Kindt, QU athletics

QUINCY — A walkie talkie hangs from the netting stretched around the Quincy University baseball team’s dugout and always within Hawks coach Matt Schissel’s reach. It’s how he communicates with the bullpen during a game. Saturday, he hardly touched it. Right-handed starter Jay Hammel alleviated any pressure on Schissel and the bullpen during the final…

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Schuckman: Days like this are reason Hammel returned to Hawks to pitch one more season

Quincy University pitcher Jay Hammel, left, gets congratulated by teammates and coaches as he comes off the field following an inning during Sunday's Great Lakes Valley Conference Tournament championship game against Drury at Mtn Dew Park in Marion, Ill. | Photo courtesy Jared McFarlane, Great Lakes Valley Conference

QUINCY — Jay Hammel wrestled with the decision. Should he stay or should he go? Last May, Hammel graduated from Quincy University with a bachelor’s degree in communications and media studies. He also fashioned a 9-2 record as a right-handed starter for the QU baseball team, helping the Hawks get within one victory of a…

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Hawks blend ingredients for victory together to win another GLVC weekend series

Quincy University right-hander Jay Hammel went seven innings Sunday in leading the Hawks to an 11-2 victory over Missouri-St. Louis in Great Lakes Valley Conference play. | Matt Schuckman photo

ST. LOUIS — The Quincy University baseball team’s recipe for success worked well Sunday. The Hawks piled up runs, scoring 11 times and collecting 18 hits. Jay Hammel delivered a strong start as the right-hander allowed just two runs over seven innings. The bullpen finished it off with Chase Gockel and Tyler Carpenter each striking…

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Hammel, Hawks finish series with dominant effort, earn split with Prairie Stars

Quincy University right-hander Jay Hammel delivers a pitch during Sunday's game against Illinois-Springfield in the nightcap of a Great Lakes Valley Conference doubleheader. | Photo courtesy Max Bennett, QU athletics

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Jay Hammel delivered his best when the Quincy University baseball team needed it most. Having lost the first game of Sunday’s Great Lakes Valley Conference doubleheader with Illinois-Springfield, the Hawks needed a victory in the nightcap to split the day and the four-game series between two nationally ranked teams. Hammel made certain…

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Schuckman: Unshaken confidence allows Hammel to rejoin QU rotation with bulldogged effort

Quincy University right-hander Jay Hammel delivers a pitch during Sunday's game against Truman State at QU Stadium. Hammel went five innings, striking out five and earning his first victory of the season. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — Doubt comes when confidence wanes. Everything Jay Hammel experienced in the first six weeks of the Quincy University baseball team’s season could have created doubt in himself, his ability to contribute on a nationally ranked team, and his decision to return for a final year of eligibility. Never once has he doubted any…

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Hammel earns payback with complete-game victory over Panthers to keep Hawks’ season alive

Quincy University right-hander Jay Hammel pitched a complete game in Thursday's 17-4 victory over Davenport in the NCAA Division II Midwest Regional in Caledonia, Mich. Photo courtesy Max Bennett

CALEDONIA, Mich. — Jay Hammel never forgot. A year ago, when the Quincy University baseball team was eliminated from the NCAA Division II Midwest Regional with a 22-13 loss to Davenport, Hammel worked one inning of relief and allowed two runs and four hits. That crept into his mind as the right-handed pitcher warmed up…

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Hawks split doubleheader as Hammel dazzles in opener, pitching struggles in nightcap

Quincy University catcher Tanner Dreher tags out Saginaw Valley State's Tucker Roe to end the sixth inning in the second game of Saturday's doubleheader. Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — The fact the Quincy University baseball team landed fifth in the first NCAA Division II Midwest Region rankings didn’t matter much to the Hawks. If they don’t keep winning, the region rankings won’t matter at all. Another shutdown pitching performance from right-hander Jay Hammel resulted in a 4-1 victory over Saginaw Valley State…

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