Second-half surge carries QU football team to third stright victory heading into GLVC play

Quincy University linebacker Peyton Plunkett, left, pressures Northern Michigan quarterback Mariano Valenti during Saturday's game at QU Stadium. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — An air of frustration in the Quincy University football team’s locker room seemed inevitable. Twice during the second quarter of Saturday’s game against Northern Michigan, the Hawks forced and recovered fumbles that gave them possession at the Wildcats’ 27-yard line both times. Neither time did Quincy score. First, the Hawks missed a 43-yard…

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Photo gallery: QU football team rewrites single-game records in whitewashing of Madonna

Quincy University quarterback Ike Wiley, a Quincy Notre Dame graduate, looks to pass during the second quarter of Saturday's game against Madonna at QU Stadium. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — The Quincy University football team established new single-game records for points scored and margin of victory during Saturday’s 89-0 lambasting of Madonna University at QU Stadium. Muddy River Sports Editor Matt Schuckman was on the sideline and put together this photo gallery:

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Photo gallery: QU, Indianapolis square off in Midwest Super Regional at QU Stadium

A young fan waves a Quincy University baseball towel during Friday's NCAA Division II Midwest Super Regional game at QU Stadium. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — The opening game of the NCAA Division II Midwest Super Regional turned into a pitchers’ duel, one the seventh-seeded University of Indianapolis baseball team won with a 4-3 victory over top-seeded Quincy University on Friday at QU Stadium. The Hawks (47-10) must win twice Saturday to advance to the D-II World Series in…

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Super regional primer: Top-seeded Hawks chasing World Series berth against Greyhounds

Two of Quincy University's record-setting hitters — Gino D'Alessio, left, and Luke Napleton — leads the Hawks into the best-of-three Midwest Super Regional against Indianapolis beginning at 3 p.m. Friday at QU Stadium. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — A Great Lakes Valley Conference baseball program is guaranteed a spot in the NCAA Division II World Series for the third consecutive season and the seventh time in the past nine seasons. Will it be the team of destiny or the ultimate underdog? A best-of-three series taking place at QU Stadium will decide…

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Marinara muscle: Full-scale Italian meal fuels Hawks’ power surge in Midwest Regional opener

Quincy University leadoff hitter Gino D'Alessio, left, celebrates one of his his three home runs Thursday with third-base coach Chandler Purcell as the Hawks eliminated Wayne State with an 18-8 victory. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — Paul D’Alessio decided he needed to fuel the Quincy University baseball team with some Italian power this week. So Tuesday, he assembled the kind of feast a loving nonna would serve to her family at Sunday dinner. Pasta, meatballs, sausage, chicken cacciatore, etc. It was the kind of meal where you wipe the…

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Six is a serious number: No. 13 Hawks use six-run rally in seventh inning to upend No. 4 Mules

Quincy University's Gino D'Alessio watches the flight of his go-ahead, three-run home run to left field in the seventh inning of Tuesday's game against Central Missouri at QU Stadium. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — Brock Boynton never felt the ball leave the bat. “That’s when you know it’s going to be a good one,” he said. Gino D’Allesio didn’t feel the ball explode off his bat either. “I’ve been waiting for one of those,” he said. When the Quincy University center fielder and shortstop barreled up pitches…

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Photo gallery: No. 13 QU baseball team erases four-run deficit to knock off No. 4 Central Missouri

Quincy University second baseman Nolan Wosman tags out Central Missouri's Brennan van Breusegen on a stolen base attempt during Tuesday's game at QU Stadium. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — A six-run rally in the seventh inning Tuesday — a “Quincy six-spot” as center fielder Brock Boynton called it — pushed the 13th-ranked Quincy University baseball team to an 8-6 victory over No. 4 Central Missouri at QU Stadium in the Hawks’ final non-conference game of the regular season. Muddy River Sports Editor…

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Walking away a winner: Parks’ four-RBI effort powers Hawks to sweep of Vikings

Quincy University's Gino D'Alessio, left, celebrates with teammate Zach Parks, who hit a two-run home run in the sixth inning of Saturday's 10-0 victory over Augustana at QU Stadium. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — Zach Parks didn’t find himself in an all-or-nothing situation, but the absence of an on-deck hitter behind him suggested it. When the Quincy University left fielder went to the plate with two outs and the bases loaded in the bottom of the seventh inning Saturday, two scenarios existed. If he collected a hit…

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Photo gallery: QU baseball team completes three-game sweep of Augustana

Quincy University catcher Dustin Dupont, left, congratulates starting pitcher Kobe Essien after working a 1-2-3 third inning Saturday against Augustana at QU Stadium. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — Seven combined shutout innings from four pitchers and a four-RBI effort from the No. 9 hitter propelled the Quincy University baseball team to a 10-0 victory over Augustana on Saturday at QU Stadium and a three-game sweep of the Vikings. Muddy River Sports Editor Matt Schuckman hung out at the windy, cold stadium…

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Shutout innings from starters, gobble-it-up defense carry Hawks to doubleheader sweep

Quincy University pitcher Spencer Walker, left, gets the forceout at first base to complete a double play in the third inning of Friday's game against Augustana (S.D.) at QU Stadium. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — Quincy University baseball coach Matt Schissel picked up the walkie talkie used to relay messages to the bullpen but hesitated before hitting the call button. “I was like, ‘Do I say it? Do I not say it? Do I say it? Do I not say it?’” he said. “The whole time I’m thinking,…

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Late-inning rallies help Hawks complete four-game sweep of Timberwolves

Quincy University designated hitter Austin Simpson connects for a hit during Sunday's doubleheader against Northwood at QU Stadium. | Photo courtesy Denny Sinnock, QU Athletics

QUINCY — Never out of the fight. That needs to become the Quincy University baseball team’s new catchphrase. The Hawks completed a four-game sweep of Northwood — a perennial Midwest Region foe — with a series of late-inning rallies, scoring the go-ahead run in the seventh inning or later in three of the four games…

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Photo gallery: QU football team battles No. 12 Ashland at QU Stadium

Ashland running back Geo'vonni Wahsington, right, stiff-arms Quincy University defensive Sa'hron Cunningham during Saturday's game at QU Stadium. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — The Quincy University football team celebrated Homecoming by welcoming 12th-ranked Ashland to QU Stadium on Saturday. Check out the action through the camera lens of Muddy River Sports Editor Matt Schuckman:

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Balance, defensive aggressiveness highlight QU football program’s first preseason scrimmage

Quincy University linebacker Jackson Connell, left, runs down a running back during Saturday's scrimmage at QU Stadium. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — Revamping a defense that statistically ranked among the worst in NCAA Division II last fall starts with a single mission. Become more aggressive. The Quincy University football program’s first scrimmage of the preseason revealed a defense hell bent on being a collective nuisance. The Hawks swarmed ball carriers, harassed wide receivers and delivered…

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Birthday blast: Gems’ Loos punctuates victory over Hoots with home run on day he turns 20

Quincy Gems third baseman Lucas Loos, right, awaits the opportunity to step into the on-deck circle during Tuesday night's Prospect League game against the O'Fallon Hoots at QU Stadium. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — Although it’s a birthday generally celebrated without much hullabaloo — Nos. 18 and 21 bear more significance — Lucas Loos made certain No. 20 would be unforgettable. There’s a memento to serve as his reminder of it, too. After the Quincy Gems third baseman watched a series of birthday wishes from family and…

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Burns, baby, Burns: QU senior middle infielder provides spark during twinbill sweep of Missouri S&T

Quincy University's Kade Burns safely reaches third base during the fourth inning of Saturday's 11-3 victory over Missouri S&T in the second game of a Great Lakes Valley Conference doubleheader At QU Stadium. Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — Gino D’Alessio took a hack during batting practice Saturday morning and noticeably grimaced because of the pain in his back. At that moment, Kade Burns knew he better be ready. “I try to show up every day and be ready to go if anything like that ever happens,” Burns said. The Quincy University…

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Hawks turn series finale into slugfest to finish off Cardinals and keep momentum rolling

Quincy University third base coach Chandler Purcell, left, congratulates the Hawks' Brock Boynton as he rounds the bases after hitting a two-run home run in the eighth inning Sunday against Saginaw Valley State. Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — The scene was all too familiar. The reaction was decidedly different. That enabled the Quincy University baseball team to finish the weekend with a flourish. Saginaw Valley State’s Austin Schweiger belted a three-run home run in the top of the first inning Sunday — the Cardinals’ Hayden Jatczak did the same thing Saturday…

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Spring game gives QU football program opportunity to showcase growth

The Quincy University football team's defense made significant strides this spring, where were on display Saturday night during the annual spring game at QU Stadium. Photo courtesy Max Bennett

QUINCY — Gary Bass put himself in the crosshairs. His team then took aim at ending the spring the right way. During Saturday afternoon’s build-up to the Quincy University football program’s spring game, the Hawks’ sixth-year coach willingly climbed into a dunk tank and got dumped into the water during a tailgate party a short…

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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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Walker befuddles Cardinals’ offense as Hawks open weekend series with shutout

Quincy University's Lance Logsdon, left, celebrates with teammates Gino D'Alessio and Nolan Wosman after hitting a two-run home run in the first inning Friday against Saginaw Valley State. Photo courtesy Max Bennett, QU Athletics

QUINCY — Spencer Walker never gave Saginaw Valley State a chance. The Quincy University right-hander held the Cardinals hitless through the first six innings Friday, leaned on his defense to turn double plays in each of the final three innings and guided the Hawks to a 10-0 non-conference victory at QU Stadium. It was Quincy’s…

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Photo gallery: QU football team’s first spring scrimmage

The Quincy University defense collapses on a ballcarrier during Saturday's scrimmage at QU Stadium. Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — Quincy University football coach Gary Bass made it clear to the Hawks’ defense what the matra needed to be throughout spring practice. Play smart. Play hard. Play fast. So far, that’s working. The Hawks showed considerable improvement defensively during Saturday’s controlled scrimmage at QU Stadium, doing more gang tackling than one-on-one tackling as…

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Inability to string zeroes together dooms QU baseball team’s pitching staff in series setback

Quincy University coach Matt Schissel signals for a couple of players to come from the dugout to help second baseman Dayson Croes off the field after Croes suffered a high ankle sprain in the second inning Sunday against Davenport at QU Stadium. Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — Hoping to build some momentum heading into the first Great Lakes Valley Conference series of the season, the Quincy University baseball team is instead looking for answers. Specifically, how do the Hawks get guys out, especially late in games? Quincy averaged nearly seven runs per game during a four-game, non-conference weekend series with…

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With wind blowing out to right field, QU baseball team manages to split twinbill with Davenport

Quincy University shortstop Gino D'Alessio attempts to turn a double play against Davenport in the third inning of Saturday's first game at QU Stadium. Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — Spencer Walker tried to keep everything the Davenport baseball team hit in the ballpark despite winds blowing out to the short porch in right field. The rest of the Quincy University pitching staff didn’t have as much luck doing the same thing. After Walker tossed a seven-inning complete game and led the Hawks…

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Hawks’ offense unable to offset another dismal defensive effort in home finale

Quincy University running back Tremayne Lee, left, looks to avoid the tackle from Southwest Baptist's Bryton Lewi during Saturday's game at QU Stadium. Photo courtesy QU Athletics

QUINCY — Until the Quincy University football team figures out how to slow an opposing offense, it doesn’t matter how efficient the Hawks are themselves. Saturday was a prime example. In the final home game of the 2021 season, the Hawks rushed for a season-high 312 yards, averaged 5.7 yards per carry and churned out…

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Hawks use victory to remind each other it’s time to seize moment and momentum

Quincy University quarterback Tionne Harris returned Saturday after missing last week's game against Iowa Wesleyan with a shoulder injury and threw four touchdown passes in the Hawks' 38-17 victory over Walsh. Photo courtesy Denny Sinnock

QUINCY — It’s time for the Quincy University football team to leave the shoulds, woulds and coulds in the past. A 38-17 victory over Walsh on Saturday to cap a season-opening three-game homestand has the Hawks looking forward, not back. “I’ve been here since 2018 and I never would have thought we’d beat a team…

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Hawks’ effort in loss to Mustangs shows progress is being made

Quincy University wide receiver AJ Hardin hauls in a 44-yard touchdown pass in the second quarter of Saturday's game against Midwestern State at QU Stadium. Photo courtesy Denny Sinnock

QUINCY — Four years ago, in Gary Bass’ first game as the interim head coach of the Quincy University football program, the Hawks were humbled and pummeled in a 50-point loss at Midwestern State. Saturday, with Bass entrenched as the Hawks coach and a roster fully recruited by him and his staff, the return engagement…

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Hawks embark on new season searching for continued development and success

Quincy University coach Gary Bass is entering his fifth season at the helm and looking to make continued progress. Photo courtesy Ann Leppke

QUINCY — The Quincy University football team opens its season Saturday as Midwestern State makes the 10-hour trip from Wichita Falls, Texas, to QU Stadium for an NCAA Division II matchup. The outcome will give Hawks coach Gary Bass and his staff a barometer for where the program sits and how far it has come.…

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