Neal Homers Twice in Loss to Quincy

Reid Neal - Photo credit: James Ragan Photography

A three-run home run by Quincy’s Jake Walters in the top of the ninth inning was the difference Saturday, as the Florida Tech Panthers lost their second game of the weekend 8-5, to the Quincy Hawks.

The decisive long ball was the second of the day for Walters, who also hit one in the second inning. Florida Tech’s Reid Neal matched him with home runs in the bottom of the first and bottom of the ninth. It was a back-and-forth affair for much of the day, with the teams combining for 19 hits, but in the end, the Panthers suffered their second loss of the weekend, at Bob Stein Stadium in Dahlonega, GA.

Quincy struck first against Florida Tech starter Tyler Deel.  Jack Klages doubled leading off the game and later scored on an error. The Panthers answered immediately in the bottom of the inning. John Sternagel drew a walk to lead off the inning and Reid Neal took Quincy starter Mark Niebrugge, deep and out, giving the Panthers a 2-1 lead.

Deel (2-2) pitched well overall, striking out 10 over four innings of work. He struck out the side three times, including in the second inning, but he also gave up a home run to Nolan Snyder knotting things up at two.

Quincy (5-2) showed patience to start the third, working Deel for three straight walks. J.C. DeMuri then hit into a double play, allowing the lead run to score. The Panthers threatened in the bottom of the third, loading the bases with one out, but they couldn’t capitalize.

Deel made quick work of the Hawks in the fourth, striking out the side for the second time. His squad rewarded him with a two-out, two-run blast from Sternagel, making it a 4-3 game.

Quincy loaded the bases in the bottom of the fourth, using two more walks and a Dominic Miles single to load the bases. Drew Beyer relieved Deel, inheriting a three- ball count against Walters, before getting him to pop out. Unfortunately for the Panthers, Beyer couldn’t get out of the inning unscathed, giving up a two-run single to DeMuri and giving the Hawks a 5-4 lead.
T
hat closed the book on Deel, who allowed three hits and five runs (four earned) in four-plus innings of work. He threw 85 pitches, allowing three hits and five walks, while striking out 10.

Beyer seemed to be getting stronger as the game went on, striking out the side in the top of the eighth. Things changed dramatically in the ninth, when with one out, Walters hit the bomb that gave his team an 8-4 cushion.

Beyer gave up three runs on six hits in his five innings of work. He walked one and struck out six, throwing 89 pitches.

Florida Tech did not go quietly in the ninth, with Neal hitting his second home run of the day and Grant McKown hitting a double, before Ryan Sinzenich flew out to end the game. Cole Crawford got the final two outs, picking up the save.

For more info: Quincy @ Florida Tech Box Score

Riley Martin, who pitched 4.1 innings in relief of Niebrugge, got the win for Quincy. He allowed one run on five hits and struck out four.

The Panthers (9-5) will travel to Auburndale, FL on Saturday, for games against the University of Mary (11:00 a.m.) and Walsh University at 2:30 p.m. They return home Monday, to take on Winona University at 3:00 p.m.



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