Gems score eight runs in first two innings, while Flowers, Eskridge shut down Alton late

ALTON — The Quincy Gems got a hit from every player in the lineup Tuesday night and scored eight runs in the first two innings in an 11-7 victory over the Alton River Dragons in a Prospect League game at Lloyd Hopkins Field.

The Gems (7-12) are a half-game behind Illinois Valley in the Great River Division and trail division-leading Clinton by five games.

Quincy scored four runs in the first inning to take a lead they never relinquished. Joe Siervo led off with a single and eventually scored on Jimmy Koza’s single. With one out, Kyle Hvidsten belted a two-run home run. Jack Zebig followed with a triple, and he scored on Harry Fandre’s single.

Another four-run outburst in the second inning started when a pair of Alton errors put runners on first and second with one out. Koza doubled in one run, and Lucas Loos then doubled in two more. Loos scored on a double by Zebig.

Harry Oden’s first home run of the season came in the sixth inning, but Alton scored three times in the bottom of the sixth to get within 9-6. Dawson Flowers came on in relief and pitched 2 2/3 innings of scoreless relief to keep the River Dragons at bay.

Easton Mains hit a two-run single in the top of the ninth to give Quincy breathing room, and Stephen Eskridge recorded the final four outs to get the save.

Hvidsten had three hits, while Koza and Zebig each had two.