MURFREESBORO, Tenn. ? Austin Peay State University's baseball team scored 12 runs in the final four innings, but it was too little too late as it dropped an 18-13 decision to Middle Tennessee, Wednesday night, at Reese Smith Field.

Middle Tennessee (32-12) scored in each of its eight innings off of six different Austin Peay pitchers. The Blue Raiders scored their 18 runs on 21 hits, centerfielder Nathan Hines making the most of the evening with a 3-for-4, four RBI, five-run scored outing that included a double, home run and two walks.

Austin Peay's (18-27) offense impressed as well with 17 hits in the loss, Fink, the designated hitter, leading the effort with a 3-for-4, four RBI outing. Centerfielder Jared DeLong adding a 3-for-4, two RBI performance. Meanwhile, third baseman Greg Bachman chipped in a 3-for-5 effort that fell a single shy of hitting for the cycle as he had third-inning double, eighth-inning triple, ninth-inning home run, reached on an error in the first and via a base on balls in the seventh.

The Govs scored one run ? on a DeLong RBI single in the second ? through the first five innings before making its late rally. A lone run in the sixth providing a signal of the torrent about to come. First baseman Matt Kole started the five-run seventh inning's scoring with a RBI fielder's choice before Fink, the designated hitter, belted a three-run home run to left-center field. Baggett, who entered the game in right field, followed with a solo blast to center field, cutting APSU's deficit to 12-7.

However, Middle Tennessee responded with four runs in its half of the seventh inning, including third baseman Rawley Bishop's two-run home run and pushed its lead back to 16-7.

The Govs would get two of those runs back in the eighth via consecutive RBI singles by catcher Josh Purcell and Fink. But MTSU again matched that output with two runs in its half of the eighth.

Austin Peay continued to battle in the ninth, scoring a run on second baseman Andrew Clement's double before Bachman lashed a two-run home run to left field. After a pitching change, Purcell and Kole promptly posted back-to-back singles before Purcell scored on a wild pitch. MTSU was forced to bring in its third pitcher of the inning after a walk and Chris Coley responded by inducing a strikeout and fly out to end the game.

Austin Peay starter Jeremy Dobbs (2-2) took the loss after allowing five runs on five hits and six walks over 2.1 innings. Kole made his second pitching appearance in as many days, allowing two unearned runs in the eighth.

Middle Tennessee starter Jud Stoltz (2-1) picked up the win after limiting Austin Peay to two runs (one earned) on six hits over six innings. However, after he departed MTSU used five pitchers the game's remainder, including the three pitchers in the ninth inning.

Austin Peay continues its five-game roadtrip with a three-game Ohio Valley Conference series at Tennessee Martin. That series begins with a 1 p.m., Saturday, doubleheader before a 1 p.m., Sunday, contest.

NOTES: The Govs 17 hits fell one shy of their season high (18), set twice this season, the last just four days ago against Southeast Missouri... the game lasted 3:50, their third-longest outing this season ? all coming in the last 10 contests.