MARION, Ill. – Four programs earned wins on the opening day of the 2023 Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) Baseball Championship Tournament, compiling more than 14 hours of game time from Mtn. Dew Park in Marion, Illinois.
No. 1 Quincy University was the only top-four seed to take home a victory on day one, while No. 5 University of Indianapolis, No. 6 Drury University, and No. 7 William Jewell College all pulled off upset wins over higher-seeded teams.
Four games are now set for Friday, with third-seeded Maryville University and second-seeded University of Illinois Springfield scheduled for 9 a.m. CT in an elimination game to start the day. No. 4 Lewis University and No. 8 Missouri S&T will also battle for the right to stay in Marion at 12:30 p.m., while Drury plays Jewell at 4 p.m. and Quincy meets UIndy at 7:30 p.m.
No. 5 INDIANAPOLIS 3, No. 4 LEWIS 1
BOX SCORE | RECAPS:
UINDY,
LEWIS
Brandon DeWitt was the star of the show in game one of the tournament, tossing a one-run complete game for the Greyhounds. The senior from Xenia, Ohio threw a whopping 143 pitches, but was able to go coast-to-coast and preserve UIndy’s bullpen into the weekend. DeWitt added two hits and an RBI from the leadoff spot, while catcher Will Spear contributed the rest of Indianapolis’ runs on an eighth-inning two-run double. GLVC Pitcher of the Year Jake Karaba gave up one run and punched out 10, but the junior was pulled after five innings with 106 pitches.
No. 6 DRURY 6, No. 3 MARYVILLE 3 (11 inn.)
BOX SCORE | RECAPS:
DU,
MU
The second contest of the day saw the Panthers pull off a huge comeback win to advance into the winners’ bracket. Maryville jumped out to an early 2-0 lead thanks to RBI hits from Jack Zebig and Stephen Randazzo. Drury found themselves in a 3-1 deficit with two outs in the ninth, but Brooks Sunny came up clutch with a single into left to score two runs and tie the game. After a scoreless 10th, the Panthers broke out for three runs in the top half of the 11th frame, highlighted by Luke Burk’s two-run bomb. Drury’s Mason Meeks threw three perfect innings to earn the win, while Tyler Bastunas led the way offensively with four hits and an RBI.
No. 7 WILLIAM JEWELL 13, No. 2 ILLINOIS SPRINGFIELD 3
BOX SCORE | RECAPS:
WJC, UIS
These two teams traded early punches until Jewell’s offense went nuclear at the end to come away with a blowout victory. The Cardinals combined for 10 runs in the final three frames, as they used a variety of ways to score, including three runs on wild pitches. Jewell senior Alex Epp reached base in all six plate appearances, collecting five hits and an RBI. Dawson Tweet added four RBIs, and Chandler Ashby tossed a complete game with 11 strikeouts.
No. 1 QUINCY 9, No. 8 MISSOURI S&T 8
BOX SCORE | RECAPS:
QU,
S&T
Under the lights at Mtn. Dew Park, the Miners gave the top-seeded Hawks a scare, but Quincy was able to prevail with a walk-off walk to end it. S&T came out swinging offensively, as Cole Hampton’s three-run moonshot gave the Miners a 5-0 advantage in the third inning. Quincy responded with five runs of their own, starting with back-to-back homers from GLVC Player of the Year Luke Napleton and Lance Logsdon and ending with an RBI double off the bat of Logsdon. After three lead changes and two ties over the next four innings, the Hawks received an RBI single from Brock Boynton to tie the game and Luke Napleton sealed the victory with a bases-loaded walk to bring home the winning run. The Quincy offense was led by the trio of Napleton, Logsdon, and Boynton, who combined for nine hits and five RBIs. Hampton contributed three hits and four RBIs in the losing effort.
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