MURRAY, Ky ? Austin Peay came out strong but Murray State powered its way to a 3-2 Ohio Valley Conference victory, Saturday afternoon, at Reagan Field.
Austin Peay (22-30, 7-12 OVC) was aggressive early and scored two runs in the second inning to take the early lead. Right fielder Daniel Baggett pushed across the Govs first run with a single to right field with men on first and second.

Baggett then was involved in the Govs second run, starting towards second to force a throw, which the ?Breds catcher offered but was late. Meanwhile, second baseman Chris Lewellyn ? at third ? started towards home and slid in safely after the catcher dropped the ball at home plate, giving APSU a 2-0 lead.

Senior right-hander Ryne Mantooth stymied the ?Breds through three innings, surrendering one hit. However, Murray State found its solution in the fourth as they posted three solo home runs. First baseman Wes Cunningham and right fielder Daniel Hill hit back-to-back home runs to right field, tying the game. Following a strikeout, third baseman Tyler Owen hit a third home run, giving Murray State a 3-2 advantage.

The ?Breds would threaten again in the fifth, center fielder Zach Noonan leading off the inning with a double and moving to third on Elliot Frey's fly out, chasing Mantooth from the mound. Reliever Jeremy Dobbs issued consecutive walks to load the bases before inducing an inning-ending double play.

After the fifth, neither team had a quality scoring chance. Murray State did not have a base runner in its final three innings, Dobbs and senior right-hander Jacob Brisbin combining to retire 10 straight batters. However, the Govs could not muster any more than two base runners in the final six innings ? a one-out single by third baseman Greg Bachman in the third and a one-out walk by Lewellyn in the seventh going for naught.

Mantooth (2-5) took the loss after allowing three runs on six hits over 4.1 innings. However, he did not walk a batter and struck out three while showing good control of all his pitches.

However, Austin Peay could not support Mantooth's outing, with just two runs on six hits in the affair. Bachman and junior catcher Trey Lucas each had two hits, the only two of the Govs top seven batters to record a hit.

Murray State starter Marc Harmon (4-2) picked up the victory after allowing two runs (one earned) on six hits over seven innings. Reliever Lucas Allen threw two hitless innings to record his season's fourth save.

Offensively, only Owen had a multi-hit outing, finishing the day 2-for-3 with his solo home run. The Govs pitching staff held the rest of the ?Breds in check allowing just six hits.

NOTES: Saturday was the final appearance as a Gov for four players: pitchers Ryne Mantooth and Jake Brisbin, catcher Zac Upton and first baseman Brooks Hunton... With Tennessee Martin's victory at Jacksonville State, the Govs finished last in the nine-team OVC race this season their 7-12 (.368) record finishing just seven points behind Tennessee Martin's 9-15 (.375) mark... the Govs won just one OVC series this season and finished the conference slate 1-5-1 in conference series, including a tie against Tennessee Tech.

-AP-