QUINCY — There was some late game magic by the Quincy Blue Devils baseball team on Monday afternoon in a pivotal Western Big 6 Conference foe Rock Island.
After a six-run top of the fifth inning, the Blue Devils fell behind two runs and had to mount a comeback they completed in the bottom of the sixth with RBIs from Drake Gibson and Mason Ritter to come away with a 7-6 win over Rocky.
“It was a good comeback by our guys,” said QHS head coach Rick Lawson. “Cameron (Lawson)had a big at bat to get it going. Drake Gibson and Mason Ritter with big time ABs to tie it up and win it. (Chase) Saalborn — the fireman — come in with the bases loaded to shut them down and get the win.”
Gibson got the start on the mound and had a no-decision after pitching 4.2 innings with seven strikeouts, while allowing two hits, four walks and three earned runs.
After Noah Brown failed to record an out, Saalborn came in relief to earn the win after pitching 1.1 scoreless innings with one strikeout and allowing one hit and one walk.
James Day pitched a scoreless seventh inning to get the save.
Gibson went 2-for-4 with two doubles, two runs and an RBI, while Lawson went 1-for-3 with a RBI and a run.
Day went 2-for-3, while Trace Routh went 2-for-3 with a run and Noah Wells went 1-for-2 with a triple and two runs.
Mason Dent went 2-for-4 with a run and an RBI, while Ritter went 1-for-3 with a walk, double and an RBI.
Up next for QHS (6-1-1) is a home game against Illini West (7-1) at 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday.