CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – Austin Peay's baseball team picked up a 4-3 win, Saturday, against Northern Illinois behind another stellar performance on the mound.
Junior left-hander Stephen Huff (1-0) struck out 11 – one shy of his career high – in 7.0 innings, allowing one run on two hits, while walking four. In fact, Huff threw five no-hit innings before a Jordin Hood single fell in to start the sixth.
“Huff pitched great,” Govs head coach Gary McClure said. “He threw all three pitches for strikes and really showed unbelievable command. He threw his breaking ball in the dirt when he wanted, same thing with the change up. He was doing all the things he's got to do in order to be successful. He's got great stuff. “
The Govs (4-2) scored four runs on six hits in the game, but had to scrap for each run. Two Huskie errors in the third inning, gave way to the Govs first two runs.
Freshman Cody Hudson reached on a booted ball, stole second, advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt before scoring on an RBI-single by sophomore Jon Clinard. Freshman Reed Harper took a similar route, reaching on a dropped fly ball and later scoring a fielder's choice by senior Jared Delong.
“Everything we got today, we had to earn,” McClure said. “We stole bags to get in scoring position and then we scored on balls that could've been double-play balls.
Austin Peay plated single runs in the fourth and fifth innings. Sophomore Haskell Fink lifted his season's first home run, a solo shot, off the right-field foul pole in the fourth. In the fifth, Clinard reached on a bunt single, took second on a hit-and-run single by DeLong, stole third and scored on an RBI groundout by senior Adam Browett.
Huff worked with that 4-0 lead until Hood's leadoff single in the sixth. After hitting the next batter, Troy White ripped an RBI-single in the right-center gap to score Hood.
Freshman Eric Davis pitched a three-up, three-down eighth inning for the Govs, giving way to senior closer Zach Gerler for the ninth. The right-hander made it interesting, loading the bases with a walk sandwiched between a pair of singles. He struck out the next batter, but issued an RBI walk and an RBI hit-by-pitch, before getting a fly-out to end the game.
“We manufactured runs and got good pitching and defense,” McClure said. “Doing those things; it keeps us in games and gives our offense a chance to get better and gain confidence. This team is going to be able to swing the bats. (Northern Illinois') pitching did a great job today.”
DeLong led the Govs with a 3-for-4 effort, while Clinard went 2-for-4 with one RBI. Batting leadoff and second, Clinard and Delong, respectively, accounted for five of the Govs six hits. Fink's home run was the other.
Davis struck out two in his one inning of work, while Gerler earned his season's third save despite allowing two runs and walking two, all in the ninth.
For Northern Illinois (0-5), Zach Oates (0-1) allowed four runs (two earned) on five hits in seven innings for his season's first outing. Tom Zelasco allowed one hit, pitching the eighth inning. Four Huskies had one hit each, with Hood and White each recording an RBI.
The Govs and Huskies wrap up this three-game series with a 1 p.m., Sunday, game at Raymond C. Hand Park. Sophomore Jeremy Dobbs is set to take the mound for the Govs facing Chuck Lukanen of Northern Illinois in a lefty showdown.
-AP-
