KNOXVILLE, Tenn. ? A nine-run eighth inning proved the Austin Peay State University baseball team's undoing as it dropped a 16-13 decision at Tennessee, Tuesday night, in non-conference action at Lindsey Nelson Stadium.

Austin Peay led 11-7 entering the bottom of the eighth, but Tennessee sent 14 men to the plate on its way to scoring nine runs on nine hits. After four consecutive singles, left fielder Shawn Griffin delivered the inning's big blow, a three-run blast over the right field fence that narrowed the gap to 13-12. Three batters later, pinch hitter P.J. Polk doubled to tie the game then stole third and scored on a throwing error to give Tennessee a lead it would not relinquish.

Austin Peay threatened in its half of the ninth, scoring twice and loading the bases ? bringing the tying run to the plate ? with one out. However, Vols reliever Ty'Relle Harris shut the door by striking out both hitters he faced to end the contest for his season's first save.

In the early innings the two teams traded scoring volleys. The Govs manufactured a run in the first and two runs in the third while the Vols used a solo home run in the first and two solo home runs in the third to take a 4-3 lead. The Govs got a solo home run from catcher Trey Lucas ? his season's first ? to tie the game in the fifth.

Tennessee bounced back with three runs in its half of the fifth as the Govs issued a base on balls and hit a batter to put two men on with no outs. Reliever Matt Kole came on and retired the first two men he faced but was called for a balk while attempting to issue an intentional walk, allowing one run to cross. Kole completed the intentional walk to put men at the corners, but could not find the third out, as right fielder Josh Liles singled to the shortstop to score a second run. A double by catcher Blake Forsyth pushed across the inning's third run to give UT a 7-4 lead.

Austin Peay responded with a seven-run sixth frame that was punctuated by right fielder Will Hogue's three-run home run and Farrar's two-run single, giving APSU an 11-7 advantage.

Kole (1-3) was tagged for the loss after allowing eight runs on 10 hits over 3.1 innings. Starter Jake Brisbin pitched the first four innings, allowing six runs on five hits while striking out five.

Offensively, the Govs pounded out 16 hits. Farrar, Kole, Hogue and Lucas each recording three hits. Farrar was 3-for-4 ? his second straight three-hit game ? with four RBI and now has 15 RBI in his last four games.

D.J. Leffler (1-0), the fourth of seven UT pitchers, picked up the victory after throwing a scoreless eighth inning. The Vols posted 17 hits in the victory, center fielder Kentrail Davis finishing 4-for-5 with 5 RBI, including solo home runs in the first and third innings.

Austin Peay returns to action with a 7 p.m., Wednesday, contest at Vanderbilt.

-AP-