CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. ? After seven and a half hours, Austin Peay State University's baseball team battled to a split of its Ohio Valley Conference doubleheader against Southeast Missouri, Saturday, at Raymond C. Hand Park. The Redhawks held on to a 12-9 victory in the first game before the Govs rallied for a 9-5 victory in the nightcap.

Both games were defined by big innings for both clubs. Southeast Missouri (24-16, 10-4 OVC) posted a seven-run third inning to break open the first game. Austin Peay rallied with five runs in the seventh and closed the gap to two runs before a last SEMO insurance run set the final score.

The two teams combined for 36 hits in the opener, each posting 18 hits. Southeast Missouri left fielder Justin Wheeler had four hits and right fielder Tyrell Cummings had a single, triple and home run and finished 3-for-5 with three RBI. Third baseman Greg Bachman led the Govs late rally with a three-run home run in the seventh and a two-run blast in the eighth to lead Austin Peay with a 2-for-5, 5 RBI outing.

On the mound, Southeast Missouri starter Kyle Gumieny (3-2) earned the victory after pitching six-plus innings and allowing five runs on 11 hits. Austin Peay starter Jack Snodgrass (3-2) was tagged for the loss after allowing eight runs on 10 hits over 2.1 innings. The Govs relief corps combined to limit Southeast Missouri to four runs on seven hits over the final 6.2 innings, to allow the late comeback attempt.

Austin Peay (18-24, 4-8) saw the nightcap start off inauspiciously when projected starter Ryne Harper was pulled just before first pitch after suffering an injury in warmup. In his place, junior Ricky Marshall made the start fresh off closing the first game. Southeast Missouri took advantage of the late pitching change and posted five runs in the first two innings.

The Govs offense was held in check through 3.2 innings until catcher Trey Lucas broke up the shutout bid with a two-run home run in the fourth. However, it was APSU's six-run fifth inning that broke the game open as 12 batters got to the plate, handing APSU a 9-5 advantage which it would hold on to.

Freshman Lucas Anderson (1-1) came on in relief and shutdown the SEMO offense, allowing three hits over 3.1 scoreless innings to pick up his season's first victory. Southeast Missouri starter Todd Strahlendorf (2-2) suffered the loss after allowing seven runs on eight hits over four-plus innings.

Austin Peay rapped out 14 hits in the contest, Lucas leading the effort with a 3-for-3, three RBI outing. First baseman Matt Kole went 2-for-4 with two RBI after a two-run double in the fifth. Southeast Missouri finished with 10 hits, four players each recording two hits.

The Govs and Redhawks will close their three-game Ohio Valley Conference series with a 1 p.m., Sunday, contest.

- AP -