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Quincy, Ill. – The Lewis University baseball team's late innings rally fell short on Monday (March 17) against Quincy, as the Flyers fell to the Hawks, 6-3, at QU Stadium.

The Flyers scored one run in the seventh as junior Mike Barajas (Chicago, Ill./Nazareth) doubled in sophomore Joel Rotkvich (Crestwood, Ill./St. Laurence) to get within four, at 6-2. They added a third run in the ninth as senior Jake Murray (Downers Grove, Ill./Downers Grove North) collected his third hit of the game when he singled in pinch hitter J.C. Burrell (Cottage Grove, Minn./Park). Lewis had the bases loaded but Quincy's Matt Fishman was able to close out the game with two strikeouts.
 
"I have to give Quincy a lot of credit, they came out with a little more urgency than we did," Lewis head baseball coach Tim McDonough said. "We battled all day and had a chance in the ninth to tie or take the lead."
 
"All and all, I thought we played pretty well this weekend," McDonough said. "I am happy with a series win on the road."
 
The Flyers fall to 8-7 on the year and 2-1 in Great Lakes Valley Conference action while the Hawks improve to 2-9 on the season and 1-2 in league play.
 
Lewis answered Quincy's run on three hits in the first inning with a run of their own in the top of the second when senior Alex Slaby (Davenport, Iowa/Davenport West) scored sophomore Austin Mastela (Homer Glen, Ill./Lockport) with a base hit down the right field line. Mastela got on with a single before advancing to third on two wild pitches by Quincy's starter Alexis Pena.
 
Quincy broke open the game scoring five runs over the next three innings to take a 6-1 lead. The Hawks knocked the Flyers starter Kendall Paluch (Joliet, Ill./Joliet Catholic) out after the fourth inning, as he gave up four runs on nine hits. Paluch (0-3) was tagged the loss.
 
Quincy's Graham Spraker (1-0) collected the win, throwing 3.2 innings of relief. Spraker gave up one run on two hits while striking out four and walking two. Fishman picked up his first save of the season, allowing one run on four hits and struck out four over two innings of work.
 
The Flyers return to action on Saturday (March 22) when they open the home schedule against Maryville at Brennan Field. First pitch in the GLVC doubleheader is set to for 12 PM.