Jon Back homered in Game 2 for NKU

QUINCY, Ill. - Northern Kentucky University managed just two runs and nine hits during a doubleheader against Quincy on Saturday, and the result was a pair of damaging Great Lakes Valley Conference losses to the host Hawks.

Quincy won the first game by a 4-1 score, and the Hawks completed the sweep with a 3-1 victory in the nightcap.

Kevin Reynolds hit two home runs - including an eighth-inning, two-run blast in the second game that snapped a 1-1 tie - during the doubleheader to lead Quincy. He smashed a two-run shot in the first inning of the opener off NKU right-hander Derrik Moeves to give the Hawks an early 2-0 lead.

Quincy added another run in the third inning to take a 3-0 lead, but NKU sliced the deficit to 3-1 in the top of the sixth when Conor McGeehan doubled home Matt Wagers. Quincy answered in the bottom of the inning when Ryan Gray scored on a fielder’s choice bunt by Cole Koester.

Brad Stone allowed just three hits and one run with seven strikeouts for Quincy. Moeves scattered five hits and struck out eight batters for NKU.

In the nightcap, Reynolds hit a two-run homer off NKU starter Rick Wood with one out in the eighth inning to snap a 1-1 tie and lift Quincy to the sweep. Jon Back had tied the game at 1-1 with a solo home run in the top of the sixth for NKU.

Robby Young came out of the bullpen and pitched two scoreless innings to pick up the win for Quincy, which improved to 26-22 overall, 18-14 in the GLVC. Kory Lonergan went 2-for-5 to lead NKU, which dropped to 25-21 overall, 17-11 in the GLVC.

Wood went 7 1/3 innings on the mound for NKU and allowed three runs on seven hits. Quincy starter Chris Otten pitched seven innings and scattered five hits and one run.

NKU and Quincy will conclude the four-game series Sunday with a doubleheader. The Norse are in third place in the GLVC standings.

NKU is ranked sixth in the latest NCAA Division II North Central Region poll. The top four teams in those rankings will advance to the NCAA Division II Tournament in May.