Nathan Warner had done so many of the little things necessary to keep the Quincy University baseball team's winning streak going it was easy to forget those things needed done.

That is until he was no longer there to do them.

Last week, the Hawks learned their leadoff hitter and center fielder was lost for the season, having suffered torn ligaments in his hand. In an instant, QU's lineup changed and first-year coach Brian Unger's bench grew smaller.

"It was a crushing blow," Unger admitted.

Or so he assumed it would be.

The Hawks responded to Warner's injury by taking three of four games from SIU-Edwardsville last weekend and positioning themselves for a run at an automatic berth to the six-team Great Lakes Valley Conference Tournament.

Better yet, they showed the resolve that has become their character.

"We have a lot of talented athletes, so we can mix and match things," said Scott Hauber, who started in left field against the Cougars.

"We don't have a lot of one-dimensional guys who can only play one spot. We can move guys around where we need them.

"Losing Warner definitely hurts us. It's a big blow. But life goes on, right? We have to do the best to pick up the pieces and keep it rolling."

Warner had a hand in teaching the Hawks that.

The Australian import hit .223 with just two runs scored during Quincy's nine-game losing streak. However, when the Hawks went to nationally-ranked Saint Joseph's on April 9 and swept a doubleheader, Warner went 4 for 9 with a run scored and two RBI.

Over the next week, he became the team's toughest out.

During a nine-game winning streak, Warner hit .423 with seven runs and 10 RBI to earn GLVC Player of the Week honors. The rest of the Hawks followed suit. QU managed just 25 runs in its losing streak, but scored 50 runs in its winning streak.

"Guys believe in each other," Unger said.

That was clear with how they backed freshman Justin Ritchhart, who replaced Warner atop the order last weekend.

In Saturday's doubleheader sweep, Ritchhart went 2 for 7 with three runs scored. Sunday, when the teams split, he went 0 for 7, but QU rallied for a 5-4 victory in the nightcap when Joe Palumbo socked a three-run walk-off homer in the bottom of the ninth.

"Everybody is contributing," Palumbo said after going 3 for 6 on Saturday. "When the pitching struggles, we're hitting. When we're not hitting, the pitching is there. You're there to pick each other up."

Ritchhart will be ready when it's his turn.

With Warner out, it could happen sooner rather than later.

"He hits a little bit, he throws well, he can go get the ball, he steals bases," Unger said. "It's been great watching him develop, and it's going to be great watching him help this team the next three years."

That can wait. There is too much still at stake this season.

And as the Hawks have shown, their resolve can carry them a long way.

-- mschuckman@whig.com/221-3366