CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. ? Austin Peay State University's baseball team hosts the 2009 Govs Baseball Invitational, Friday-Sunday, at Raymond C. Hand Park. Game one is scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. each day followed by the Govs contest at 2:30 p.m. Ball State, Cleveland State and Indiana will participate in this season's tournament.

Austin Peay enters the tournament with a 1-4 record after knocking off Tennessee, 5-3, Tuesday, in Knoxville. Senior designated hitter Brooks Hunton and junior outfielder Daniel Baggett lead the Govs offense with identical .308 averages. Baggett was the hero in Tuesday's victory in Knoxville, his three-run home run providing the winning margin.

On the mound, sophomore Ryne Harper will get Friday's start against Cleveland State. He had the Govs best start last weekend at Lamar, tossing seven shutout innings while striking out seven and surrendering two hits in a no decision. 

Junior Stephen Huff will start Saturday against Indiana. He was tagged for a loss in his season's first start in Texas. Huff surrendered two earned runs over 4.2 innings on three hits and three walks.

Sunday's start against Ball State goes to junior Jack Snodgrass. He had an adventurous start at Lamar where he allowed four hits, walked three, hit three batters, and struck out three while allowing four earned runs over 3.2 innings but did not factor into the decision in a back-and-forth Sunday affair.

“I believe the win at Tennessee was great for our confidence,” said Govs head coach Gary McClure. “Hopefully it is something we can springboard from to start playing good fundamental baseball ? especially when it comes to our infield defense. If we can improve our play on defense not only will we start becoming a good team, but I believe winning will result.

“This weekend we will play three very good teams and it will be a great challenge for us. I am hopeful that our team will come out and play hard in each and every inning of the three games and that we will build on the success we had at Tennessee.”

Cleveland State opened its season with a four-game set at Georgia State and visits Clarksville with a 1-3 record. Senior designated hitter Josh Hungerman had seven hits in the series and leads the team with three home runs and nine RBI while his .368 batting average is second behind Tom Carter's .385 lead pace. Hungerman also is CSU's No. 1 starter and will take the mound, Friday, against Austin Peay. He had a rough outing in his season's first start, allowing four earned runs on four hits and six walks over 5.2 innings en route to a no decision.

Indiana is 2-1 after participating in the Big Ten/Big East Challenge last weekend in Florida. Junior catcher Josh Phegley, a consensus preseason All-America selection, led the Hoosiers with a .545 average (6-of-11) at the Challenge. Freshman outfielder Alex Dickerson had a team-best five RBI and had IU's only home run in the three contests. Junior starter Eric Arnett is Saturday's scheduled starter against Austin Peay. He picked up a victory during the opening weekend, striking out eight and allowing two runs over six innings.

Ball State stands at 2-2 after splitting a four-game series at Furman last weekend. Freshman first baseman Ian Nielsen had 10 hits in that series and leads the Cardinals with a .588 batting average, two home runs and six RBI. BSU sophomore starter Kolbrin Vitek is penciled in for Sunday's start against the Govs. He was tagged for five runs in 2.1 innings in his previous start, a loss at Furman.

2009 Govs Baseball Invitational Schedule
Friday, Feb. 27
11 a.m. ? Indiana vs. Ball State [Matt Bashore (0-1, 18.00 ERA) vs. Brad Piatt (1-0, 1.80 ERA)]
2:30 p.m. ? Cleveland State vs. Austin Peay [Josh Hungerman (0-0, 6.35) vs. Ryne Harper (0-0, 0.00)]

Saturday, Feb. 28
11 a.m. ? Ball State vs. Cleveland State [Brendan Stines (0-0, 2.25) vs. Brian Long (0-0, 8.44)]
2:30 p.m. ? Indiana vs. Austin Peay [Eric Arnett (1-0, 3.00) vs. Stephen Huff (0-1, 3.86)]

Sunday, March 1
11 a.m. ? Cleveland State vs. Indiana [Dylan Henry (0-0, 10.12) vs. Blake Monar (1-0, 5.40)]
2:30 p.m. ? Ball State vs. Austin Peay [Kolbrin Vitek (0-0, 19.29) vs. Jack Snodgrass (0-0, 9.82)]