KNOXVILLE, Tenn. ? For the first time since 1987, Austin Peay State University's baseball team can claim victory against in-state rival Tennessee, posting a 5-3 decision, Tuesday, at Lindsey Nelson Stadium. The win snapped the Govs seven-game losing streak against the Volunteers.

Down 3-2 after five innings, Austin Peay (1-4) opened the sixth with shortstop Greg Bachman's double off reliever Steven Gruver. First baseman Matt Kole received a walk followed by consecutive strikeouts. Ty'Relle Harris entered the game to pitch to right fielder Daniel Baggett who welcomed the new pitcher with a home run, giving the Govs a 5-3 advantage, a lead that would stand up.

Reliever Dylan Ray (1-0) picked up the victory after tossing one inning in relief, surrendering three unearned runs on two hits and two walks. Closer Daniel Tenholder picked up his season's first save after allowing two hits and striking out one in the ninth inning.

The Govs opened the contest with two runs in the top of the first. Center fielder Jared DeLong led off the game with a single and moved to second on an error. Following a ground out that pushed DeLong to third, Bachman brought him home with an RBI single. Kole followed that with a RBI double, scoring Bachman to give the Govs a 2-0 advantage.

That lead would hold up for the next four innings as APSU starter Ricky Marshall threw four scoreless innings, allowing four hits and walking three. Tennessee was only able to break through following an Austin Peay defensive miscue in the fifth.

Ray entered the game in the fifth and got into a jam with runners on first and second with one out. A fly ball to left field was misplayed, loading the bases, but Ray got the second out on an infield pop out. Tennessee scored with a bases loaded walk issued to designated hitter Jeff Lockwood and took the lead on catcher Blake Forsythe's two-run double before a ground out closed the inning.

Gruver (0-1) was tagged for the loss after surrendering two runs on one hit and striking out four over 1.2 innings.

Austin Peay relievers Jeremy Dobbs and Ryne Harper each picked up crucial holds in the game's late stages. Dobbs threw 1.2 innings of scoreless relief after the Govs took the lead. He was followed by Harper who tossed another 1.1 innings of scoreless relief to bridge the gap to Tenholder.

Bachman led the Govs offense with a 3-for-3 outing and Kole chipped in a 2-for-3 performance. Baggett's home run was his only hit of the day (1-for-4).

Right fielder Josh Liles had the Volunteers only multi-hit outing, finishing the day 2-for-5.

Austin Peay returns home for the 2009 Austin Peay Invitational, Friday-Sunday. The Govs will host Ball State, Cleveland State and Indiana in the round-robin event. The Govs will play each day at 2:30 p.m., preceded by an 11 a.m. contest.