CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. ? Austin Peay State University led early but could not get through the middle innings and fell, 12-7, to Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Friday night, at Raymond C. Hand Park.

For the fourth time in its last five games, Austin Peay (7-6) scored in the first inning, posting two runs against Milwaukee. Centerfielder Rafael Hill opened the inning with a single and then advanced to third on an UWM error. Third baseman Tyler Farrar grounded out, allowing Hill to scamper home with the first run. Leftfielder Joshua Kemph, who reached on the error, came home on first baseman Matt Kole's single.

Milwaukee (2-10) wreaked havoc in the middle three innings, sending 24 men to the plate. In the fourth, the Panthers sent seven men to the plate and rapped out five consecutive singles to plate three runs and take a 3-2 lead.

The Govs scored twice in its half of the fourth, Hill singling in a run and Kole receiving a bases loaded walk to push home another run and give APSU a 4-3 advantage.

But the Panthers sent nine men to the plate in the fifth. The UWM cause was helped by two APSU errors which ultimately led to four unearned runs. Milwaukee took advantage of the miscues with four consecutive RBI plate appearances to take an 8-4 lead.

The Govs scored again in the fifth after shortstop Greg Bachman doubled to start the inning and scored on second baseman J.B. Gilbert's RBI groundout, narrowing the lead to 8-5.

Milwaukee kept banging away in the sixth, sending eight men to the plate and scoring twice. Both runs scored on left fielder Nick Wichser's single, extending the UWM lead to 10-5.

Austin Peay scored solo runs in both the seventh and eighth innings. Gilbert pushed across the seventh-inning run with a double, his lone hit of the night. Farrar posted the eighth-inning run with a solo home run to left center, his second home run in as many games. In both innings the Govs left a runner on third base.

Milwaukee added two insurance runs in the ninth on second baseman Cole Craft's bases-loaded single to left field. UWM reliever Matt Holzheuter retired the Govs in order to close out the game.

Both offenses had impressive nights with Milwaukee pounding out 17 hits, including three-hit nights by Kraft, Wichser and catcher Ben Long. The Govs posted a neat dozen hits, Hill finishing with three hits.

The Panthers' Adam Ferrell (1-1) picked up the victory in relief, allowing two runs on six hits over four innings. UWM starter Craig Meier was lifted after four-plus innings after allowing five runs (four earned) on six hits and five walks.

Austin Peay starter Ryne Harper (1-2) was tagged for the loss after allowing eight runs (three earned) on nine hits over 4.2 innings.

Austin Peay and Milwaukee continue their three-game series with a noon, Saturday, contest at Hand Park.

- AP -