CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. ? Austin Peay State University's baseball team continued to have trouble reining in Middle Tennessee, dropping an 11-9 decision, Wednesday night, at Reese Smith Field. It was the Govs ninth consecutive loss to the Blue Raiders.

Austin Peay (16-19) momentarily grabbed a 6-5 lead with a six-run fourth inning. Right fielder Will Hogue and catcher Trey Lucas had back-to-back home runs in the frame, Hogue's a two-run blast. The Govs would take the lead on left fielder Chad Cunningham's squeeze bunt.

However, Middle Tennessee (20-14-1) tied the game on center fielder Nathan Hines leadoff home run in the fourth. The Blue Raiders took the lead for good with a three-run sixth inning, capitalizing on a Govs error that started the inning and led to three unearned runs. MTSU would tack on two more runs in the eighth on first baseman Rawley Bishop's two-run home run.

Jeff Hughes (0-1) the second of four Austin Peay pitchers was tagged for the loss after surrendering three unearned runs over two innings. Starter Jake Brisbin allowed six runs on nine hits over four innings.

Offensively, the Govs posted a dozen hits, but only Hogue and center fielder Will Hogue had two-hit nights. Cunningham, Hogue and pinch hitter Keegan McCamment each had two RBI.

Jordan Alvis (3-1) ? the fourth of seven MTSU pitchers ? picked up the victory after allowing one run on two hits over two innings.

Hines fell a single shy of the cycle, with a triple in the first, a double in the second and home run in the fourth and finishing 3-for-5. The top three hitters in the Blue Raiders line up had nine of the team's 13 hits.

Austin Peay returns to action when it hosts Tennessee Tech in a three-game Ohio Valley Conference series, beginning with a 1 p.m., Saturday doubleheader.

-AP-