QUINCY, Ill.—The temperatures at Mart Heinen Softball Complex at Quincy University were cold all day for the doubleheader between the Hawks and Bellarmine University, and unfortunately that chill in the air transferred to the Knights' offense. Bellarmine managed just eight hits on the day and produced just one run as the host Hawks swept the Great Lakes Valley Conference doubleheader by scores of 6-1 and 11-0.
In the opener, Quincy jumped out to an early lead with three runs on four hits and a Bellarmine error in the bottom of the first. The Knights, meanwhile, did not have a baserunner until
Sabrina Fussenegger led off the fourth inning with a double.
The Hawks scored twice more in the fifth to extend their lead to 5-0. Bellarmine knocked the margin down to four in the top of the sixth. After
Alexa Foster reached on a Quincy error,
Lillie Nitzken doubled and
Rachel Ayer singled to drive in Foster. However, Ayer's single would be Bellarmine's last hit of the game.
Quincy added a run in the home half of the sixth on a solo homer by Dana Walsh to make the final 6-1.
In the second game, Quincy again got on the board early, and the Knights never recovered. Twice the Knights got runners to third base as Nitzken led off the fourth with a double and
Katie Stamper led off the fifth with a double, but in both instances the potential rallies stalled.
Quincy kept the offense cranked up racking up 11 runs on 12 hits. The Hawks plated two runs in the first inning, five in the second and four in the third as the game ended after just four and a half innings.
Bellarmine falls to 12-22, 3-13 GLVC while Quincy improves to 13-19, 3-11 GLVC.
The Knights return to action on April 14 when they host William Jewell in a doubleheader at noon.
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HTM BOX SCORE GAME 1
HTM BOX SCORE GAME 2