CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. ? A furious ninth-inning charge fell one run short as Austin Peay State University's baseball team fell 8-7 to Evansville, Wednesday night, in non-conference action at Raymond C. Hand Park.

Down 8-1 entering the final inning, Austin Peay (9-14) sent 11 men to the plate and forced Evansville to use three different pitchers in the frame. Evansville's Mark Obenchain began the inning but did not record an out ? surrendering a single, walk and RBI double to the three batters he faced. Designated hitter Trey Lucas' RBI-double chased Obenchain and the Purple Aces brought in third baseman Cody Fick to try and stem the tide.
Fick would induce a fly out from the first batter he faced, but walked right fielder Daniel Baggett to load the bases. Shortstop Jon Clinard slipped an RBI single into left field and left fielder Michael Blanchard added an infield RBI single. Centerfielder Jared DeLong ultimately chased Fick with a two-run single through the infield.

The Purple Aces brought in John Foley, their third pitcher of the inning. He was greeted by pinch hitter Andrew Clement who laid down a bunt down the right field line to score a run and get the Govs within a run. But Foley did not waver and recorded back-to-back strikeouts to end the game and pick up his season's first save.

The Govs scored the game's first run ? their only other run in the contest ? courtesy a hit-and-run play. With left fielder Adam Browett in motion at first, first baseman Matt Kole slapped a hit into centerfield. Browett scored all the way from first while Kole was caught attempting to advance to second base.

Austin Peay would have just four baserunners in the game's middle seven innings. Evansville starter Tom Heithoff (2-1) ended his five-inning outing by retiring 10 consecutive batters en route to the victory. Heithoff finished his outing allowing one run on three hits while striking out five.

Meanwhile, Evansville's (8-12) offense scored eight unanswered runs. After scoring two runs in the third, the Purple Aces added solo runs in the fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh innings. After being held scoreless in the eighth by APSU reliever Brian Bernatowicz, they scored two runs in the ninth ? including an unearned run that proved to be the difference in the contest.

Austin Peay starter Jeremy Dobbs was tagged for the loss after allowing three runs on four hits and three walks over four innings, striking out four. Kole had the Govs lone multi-hit outing, finishing 2-for-4 with an RBI. DeLong finished with two RBI and a 1-for-4 outing.

Evansville designated hitter Greg Wallace and Fick recorded solo home runs in the fourth and fifth innings, respectively, and finished with two hits and two RBI each.

Austin Peay returns to action with a three-game Ohio Valley Conference series at Jacksonville State, Saturday and Sunday.