VINCENNES, Ind. - The Hawks were on the road Friday and Saturday for an MWAC series matchup against Vincennes University, a four-year institution that competes at the NJCAA level. Coming off of a tough series against Parkland College, the Hawks went into the series looking to gain momentum going into the remaining 11 games of the 2019 regular season. With the weekend's series split, the Hawks are now 24-16 on the year and 14-10 in conference play. 

Friday, April 26th

Game 1 (W, 11-5)

Dayton University commit Andrew Zapka got the start on the mound for the Hawks in the first game of the series, throwing 6.0 innings, allowing only two runs on four hits, striking out four of the 23 batters he faced. Zapka would see his record improve to 5-2 on the year with the afternoon's win. 

The Hawks would record six extra-base hits in the first game of the series against Vincennes, with sophomore Shakur Jackson recording a season-high two doubles. The Hawks would score their first run of the game in the top of the second inning on an RBI single hit by Creighton University commit Billy Mote that would score Miles Simington. Vincennes would tie the game up a half inning later on a sacrifice fly from Tyler Etes. 

The game would remain tied until the fifth inning when the Hawks would score five runs on a Shakur Jackson RBI double, and RBI singles from Matt Barnes, Sam Olson (Xavier University commit), Miles Simington (Purdue University commit), and Normal West High School alum Jake Marti.

The final three innings of the game would see the Hawks bring five more runs across the plate, with three of the four run-scoring plays being extra-base hits. Vincennes' late-inning push in the eighth inning would score three, but wouldn't be enough to get past the Hawks. 

Game 2 (L, 2-9)

Shane Gorman took the mound for the Hawks in the second game of Friday's double header, pitching 1.1 innings before Tyler Wilman, Jonathan Burkhart (Campbell University commit) and Mason Marquis would be utilized in relief. 

Vincennes took an early three run lead on the Hawks in the bottom of the first inning on Ryan Robison RBI double and a fielder's choice play that would score Robison from third. The Hawks would answer in the top of the second inning, scoring a run on a Matt Barnes RBI single that would score Zeb Roos. 

Three more runs would come across the plate for Vincennes in the second and third innings, where the Hawks would trail by five until the top of the fifth inning, where Zeb Roos would be hit by a pitch, walking in Matt Barnes from third. Vincennes would score two more insurance runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to solidify the win. 

Saturday, April 27th

Game 3 (L, 2-7)

Stetson University commit Garner Spoljaric would start the third game of the series, throwing 2.1 innings, allowing six runs on six hits. Paul Turelli would come in for relief, pitching 3.2 innings, striking out seven of the 16 batters-faced. 

Normal Community High School alum and Purdue University commit Miles Simington would get the Hawks on the board first in the top of the first inning, recording his twentieth double of the year, scoring Shakur Jackson. Vincennes would answer in the bottom of the first on a game-tying solo homerun by Treven Madden, and an RBI single by Max Flock would bring the go-ahead run across the plate. 

Vincennes would score four more runs in the bottom of the third inning to take a five-run lead on the Hawks, which they would hold until the top of the sixth inning when Michael Bieterman's RBI single would score Simington, bringing the Hawks withing four. In the bottom of the sixth, Tyler Etes would drive in another insurance run for Vincennes bringing the final score to 2-7. 

Game 4 (W, 5-1)

In the final game of the series, Tulane University commit Clifton Slagel would pitch a complete 7.0 innings, allowing only one run on five hits, striking out two. Slagel's record improved to 5-1 on the year. 

Vincennes would be the first to score on a solo homerun by Ryan Robison in the second inning, which would be their only run scored in the game. Austin Cain would tie the game up for the Hawks in the top of the third inning, scoring Peyton Dillingham on an RBI single to left field. 

The game would remain tied until the fifth inning, when Peyton Dillingham would score Tyler McHolland on an RBI double. Dillingham would then go on to score on a wild pitch to give the Hawks a two-run lead. An inning later, Miles Simington would score Matt Barnes on a sacrifice fly to center field, and another run would score for the Hawks in the top of the seventh on a Matt Barnes RBI single to score Austin Cain to bring the score to 5-1. 

The Hawks return home on Friday, May 3rd at 3:00 PM for a conference doubleheader against Illinois Central College. You can live stream all home games by clicking here, and follow along with live stats by clicking here