No. 23 Quincy Takes Rubber Game Over Spartans

TAMPA, Fla. –  The No. 23 Quincy University Hawks outlasted the No. 3 University of Tampa Spartans in a back-and-forth slugfest.

Final: No. 23 Quincy Hawks 11, No. 3 Tampa Spartans 10

Records: Tampa (4-2), Quincy (2-1)

Location: UT Baseball Field || Tampa, Fla. 

All-Time Series: Quincy leads the series 4-3

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Quincy opened the scoring in the top of the first. Gino D'Alessio led off the inning with an opposite-field double. A pair of productive outs from Lance Logsdon and Luke Napleton moved him over and brought him in to score. | 1-0 Hawks
• Tampa responded in the bottom of the second inning. Following a one-out walk to Anthony Nunez, E.J. Doskow blasted a no-doubt two-run homer to left. | 2-1 Spartans
• Tampa's early lead was short-lived as Quincy scored four runs in the top of the third inning. The first five Hawks reached base safely, but their first run-scoring attempt would be stifled by a perfect relay to home from Jamarcus Lyons and J.D. Urso. Quincy continued to pass the baton and put runs across on a Napleton double, Nolan Wosman sacrifice fly, and a two-RBI single by Adam Lewis. | 5-2 Hawks
• The Spartans scratched a couple of runs across in the bottom of the fourth inning. Two singles and two walks scored one run and chased Quincy starter Griffin Kirn from the game. The second run of the inning came on an Urso RBI double that scored Jordan Lala. | 5-4 Hawks
• Tampa regained the lead in the bottom of the sixth inning. Lyons made a big impact in his return to the starting lineup with a lead-off solo home run to tie the game. A single and stolen base from Lala set up Urso to hit his second RBI double of the game. | 6-5 Spartans
• Braydon Nelson threw three scoreless innings in relief after starting the top of the fourth inning, but Quincy got to him as he started his fourth inning of work. A pair of singles and a hit by pitch loaded the bases for the cleanup hitter Austin Simpson, who hit a go-ahead grand slam to deep right field. The next batter Wosman hit a solo shot for back-to-back home runs. | 10-6 Hawks
• The Spartans answered right back in the bottom of the seventh inning. Off of new reliever Chase Gockel some soft contact found the right spots as a Doskow bloop single and Lyons RBI double that trickled down the left field line made it a three-run game. Pinch hitter Nico Saladino walked to load the bases for Lala, who tallied his second RBI of the game via base on balls. Two batters later, Urso continued his amazing afternoon with yet another RBI double to tie the game at 10. | 10-10
• In the top of the ninth, Quincy regained the lead once and for all with one swing of the bat by Napleton. The No. 3 hitter for the Hawks, who homered in the series opener, hit a go-ahead solo home run to left field. | 11-10 Hawks
• Southpaw Brett Panick entered the game in the bottom of the ninth inning for Quincy trying for the save. Tampa was able to get the tying run to third base with two outs, but Panick induced a groundout to the shortstop to end a great game. | Final: 11-10 Hawks

INSIDE THE STATS:

• Lyons went 4-4 with 3 extra-base hits and 2 RBI
• Urso went 4-5 with 3 doubles and 3 RBI
• Doskow went 3-5 and hit his first home run as a Spartan

UP NEXT: Tampa will begin a three-game series against Maryville University on Friday, February 17 at 6:00 p.m.