CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. ? Austin Peay State University's baseball team will have the night to think about the opportunities it missed in a 7-6, 12-inning loss to Jacksonville State in Ohio Valley Conference action, Saturday afternoon, at Raymond C. Hand Park. The second game of the scheduled doubleheader was rained out and will be made up, Sunday, before the series finale.
After seeing its bullpen blow its first save opportunity of the season in the top of the ninth, Austin Peay (11-10, 1-3 OVC) put a man on third base with just one out in the bottom of the frame but saw a line out to the pitcher and a ground out end the threat.
Jacksonville State reliever Alex Jones stymied the Govs in extra innings, striking out the side in order in the 10th. The Govs loaded the bases with one out in the 11th, courtesy three bases on balls, but Jones struck out the next two batters he faced to maintain the tie.
In the 12th, Jacksonville State (10-14, 3-1 OVC) finally broke the scoreless tie, capitalizing on a pair of Austin Peay miscues. With one out, right fielder Clay Whittemore singled, was sacrificed over to second and moved to third on a passed ball. After John David Smelser walked and moved to second, third baseman Matt McLughlin singled to score Whittemore. The Gamecocks then attempted a delayed double steal. The Govs bit on the play, throwing to second base and allowing what proved to be an important insurance run to cross the plate.
Austin Peay threatened again in its half of the inning as second baseman Chad Cunningham singled with two out to score catcher Josh Purcell. The Govs proceeded to load the bases, but saw the opportunity vanish as Jones induced a groundout to end the game.
Both teams opened their scoring in the third inning with Jacksonville State plating two runs and Austin Peay following with four runs. The Gamecocks used three singles and a Govs error to plate their two runs. Austin Peay responded with four runs on four hits in its half of the frame. Third baseman Tyler Farrar singled to drive home the Govs first run. Two batters later, shortstop Greg Bachman was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to bring home the tying run. Right fielder Will Hogue followed with a two-run double to give APSU a 4-2 lead.
The Govs added to their lead in the fifth as first baseman Matt Kole led off the inning with a walk, moved to third on Hogue's third double and scored on designated hitter Ryan Gilboy's sacrifice fly. Austin Peay saw another chance for insurance pass it by in the sixth as they put runners on second and third with no outs, but saw three successive foul fly outs end the opportunity.
Jacksonville State began its battle back with two runs in the eighth. Left fielder Todd Cunningham started the inning with a double, which chased Austin Peay starter Stephen Huff. Reliever David Vicini came on and surrendered back-to-back singles, the first by second baseman Bert Smith plating a run, before also being chased. Reliever Daniel Tenholder, the Govs closer, struck out the first batter he faced before surrendering a sacrifice fly and then inducing a fielder's choice to end the inning.
But Tenholder, who had converted each of his first four save opportunities this season, gave up a one out solo home run to center fielder Daniel Adamson, which forced extra innings.
Kole (1-1), the Govs fourth pitcher, was tagged for the loss after allowing two runs (one earned) on three hits over 2.2 innings. Huff was left with no decision after holding JSU to three runs (one earned) on seven hits over seven-plus innings. Offensively, the Govs posted 15 hits with Hogue, Hill and Farrar each rapping out three hits. Hogue opened the day with three doubles.
Jones (4-1) picked up the victory after holding Austin Peay to one run on four hits and four walks while striking out seven over his 4.2 innings. JSU starter Mitch Miller escaped with a no decision after surrendering four runs on six hits over the first three innings. The Gamecocks offense, ranked last in batting average among OVC teams, pounded out 16 hits, Cunningham, Smith, Whittemore, designated hitter Brian Piazza and Adamson each posting three hits.
Due to game two's postponement, Austin Peay and Jacksonville State will return to the field for an 11 a.m., Sunday, doubleheader.
-AP-
