CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. ? Austin Peay State University's offense kept rolling the boulder up the hill, but could not get over the top in a 9-8 loss to nationally-ranked Vanderbilt, Tuesday night, at Raymond C. Hand Park.

Vanderbilt (29-11) struck first on shortstop Ryan Flaherty's two-run home run in the first inning. The Govs battled back to tie the game with solo runs in the first and second innings. Shortstop Tyler Farrar's sacrifice fly in the first halved the lead. Right fielder Will Hogue tied the affair with a leadoff home run in the second inning.

However, the lead would not last more than one out as right fielder Dominic de la Osa's three-run blast over the left field fence gave Vanderbilt a 5-2 advantage.

Austin Peay's (18-21) offense would not surrender and fought back to tie the game again with a three-run fourth inning. Left fielder Daniel Baggett's two-run double set up designated hitter Keegan McCamment's game-tying single.

But again, the Austin Peay pitching staff could not hold the line, surrendering two runs in both the fifth and sixth frames. In the fifth, back-to-back bases loaded walks accounted for the damage, giving VU a 7-5 lead. One inning later, first baseman Andrew Giobbi and catcher Curt Casali each had run scoring singles.

APSU's offense would try to maintain the pace, scoring a lone run in the fifth and two more in the seventh. Catcher Trey Lucas' run-scoring triple was the Govs fifth-inning tally. In the seventh, Farrar tripled push across a run and he scored on Hogue's sacrifice fly, cutting the lead to one run.

The Govs would get the tying run in scoring position twice in the eighth, but had one man cut down on a failed stolen base attempt and left the other at third base.

Austin Peay reliever Jeff Hughes (0-2) was tagged for the loss after allowing four runs (three earned) on four hits and four walks over 2.1 innings. Govs starter Ryne Harper ? making a “rehab” start ? surrendered five runs on five hits over three innings. Jake Brisbin closed the contest with 3.2 innings of scoreless relief.

The Govs offense mustered just seven hits against the ?Dores pitching staff. Baggett finished 2-for-4 with two RBI for the Govs lone multi-hit effort. Farrar and Hogue each had two RBI.

Vanderbilt's Drew Hayes (1-0) ? the second of five pitchers ? picked up the win after allowing four runs on five hits in 3.1 innings. Closer Russell Brewer picked up the final two outs for his season's fifth save.

The Commodores offense rapped out 13 hits with Flaherty and de la Osa leading the way with three hits each. de la Osa was 3-for-5 with three RBI and had a single, double and home run.

Austin Peay returns to action with a 6 p.m., Wednesday, contest at MIssouri Valley Conference foe Evansville.

-AP-