CLARKSVILLE, Tenn.
? One big inning ? a seven-run sixth ? was the difference maker as Austin Peay State University's
baseball team dropped an 11-4 decision to Murray
State in Ohio Valley Conference
action, Saturday, at Raymond
C. Hand
Park.
The game was the regular-season
finale for both teams. Austin Peay fell to 27-27 overall and 14-12 in
conference play, finishing third in the league race. MurrayState
improved to 21-30 overall and 12-14 in league play, but finished seventh in the
standings and will not advance to the post-season tournament.
Murray State starter Chris Craycraft held the
Govs in check through five innings. He surrendered a leadoff double to center
fielder Rafael Hill to start the game, a hit the Govs would eventually score.
After that hit, Craycraft retired 12 consecutive batters until surrendering a
leadoff home run to right fielder Will Hogue in the fifth.
However, after they saw their lead
narrowed to 4-2 following that home run, the Thoroughbreds blew the game open
with a seven-run sixth innings. They were helped in their cause by a pair of
Governors errors and needed just five hits to expand their lead to 11-2.
Austin Peay would score two runs in
the bottom of the inning to touch up the score, but Murray State
was not threatened the rest of the way.
Craycraft (5-4) picked up the
victory after holding Austin Peay to four runs on eight hits while striking out
four over seven innings. Relievers Brad Rowland and Drew Leeper each threw one
inning of scoreless relief to finish the effort.
Austin Peay starter Ryne Harper
(3-4) was tagged for the loss after surrendering three runs on six hits over
3.2 innings.
Murray State posted 17 hits in the win, with four
players each recording three hits. Second baseman Matt Hon was 3-for-6 with two
RBI and center fielder Zach Noonan was 3-for-5 with two RBI.
Right fielder Will Hogue's 2-for-3,
two RBI performance paced the Govs 10-hit attack.
Austin Peay returns to action at the
2008 Ohio Valley Conference tournament, playing a 6:30 p.m., Wednesday contest
against No. 6 seed Southeast Missouri.
-AP-
