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

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 Davenport, but the Panthers swept Sunday’s doubleheader with 11-7 and 19-8 victories, won the series and forced the Hawks to use 14 pitchers in the process.

Now, a showdown looms starting Friday with Illinois-Springfield, the preseason pick to win the GLVC’s Blue Division and currently ranked 15th in the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association Division II national poll.

Making matters worse, the Hawks (9-9) likely will be without at least half of their starting middle infield.

Senior second baseman Dayson Croes, a reigning All-American infielder, suffered a high ankle sprain while covering second base on a stolen base attempt in the second inning of the nightcap. He was helped off the field by a couple of teammates and left QU Stadium on crutches.

Croes is expected to miss two weeks.

Sophomore shortstop Gino D’Alessio also left the game early after suffering a hand injury while diving into third base as he went from first to third on a single in the sixth inning. He is expected to play against the Prairie Stars.

Who pitches is another matter.

Senior right-hander Jay Hammel started Sunday’s opener and allowed three runs in the first inning but settled in and posted three consecutive scoreless frames. He was pulled with one out in the fifth, leaving with the Hawks down 3-2.

Quincy tied the game in the bottom of the fifth on D’Alessio’s two-run homer, and after allowing two runs in the top of the sixth, the Hawks took the lead in the bottom of the inning when Luke Napleton jacked a two-run home run and Zach Parks scored on the backend of a double steal for a 7-6 advantage.

The bullpen couldn’t make it last. Left-handed closer Sam Stephens allowed the Panthers to load the bases with one out courtesy of a single, a double and an intentional walk. Following a strikeout for the second out of the inning, Stephens walked Davenport’s Noah Marcoux to tie the game and walked Carter Troncin to force in the go-ahead run. He then allowed a two-run single.

The Panthers tacked on another run for a five-run inning and an 11-7 victory.

Stephens allowed five runs on three hits and three walks in two-thirds of an inning.

The pitching struggles continued in the nightcap.

The Hawks’ Nolan Roseman allowed two runs in the top of the first inning and gave up eight runs on before getting pulled with two outs in the second inning. The Panthers led 10-5 through three innings, then tacked on five runs in the fifth and four in the sixth.

Davenport had 19 hits in the second game, including nine extra-base knocks. Tim Reinholz, who pitched a scoreless seventh inning, was the only QU hurler not to allow a run.

Lance Logsdon went 2 for 4 with two solo home runs for the Hawks, while Nolan Wosman was 3 for 4 with a double and Zach Parks went 2 for 3.