RICHMOND, Ky. - Eastern Kentucky's Michael Garcia hit a three-run, eighth-inning, home run to cap a 15-12 come-from-behind Ohio Valley Conference win over Austin Peay, Sunday, as the Colonels swept the Govs in a weekend series.

Austin Peay falls to 17-15 overall with a 3-6 OVC record, while Eastern Kentucky improves to 17-14 with a 6-3 OVC mark.

The implosion of the Govs bullpen began with a two-run, eight-inning, shot by Jacob Daniel off David Vicini that tied the game at 12-12. Zach Gerler replaced Vicini and OVC preseason co-Player of the Year Jason Langfels greeted him with a double down the left-field line. Gerler induced a fly ball, but followed with a full-count walk. That set the stage for Garcia's game-winner.

"For the first time this year, Zach just didn't have it," Austin Peay head coach Gary McClure said. "His stuff has been electric all year, but it just wasn't there today. His fastball has been very good, but it wasn't there today. You could see it. He didn't have the extra velocity and his stuff wasn't sharp."

It was a typical OVC Sunday as both teams came out swinging and chased the respective starters early in the game. The Govs used five singles to score four runs in the second inning, including an RBI by Reed Harper and a two-RBI single by Jon Clinard. Chris Lewellyn took home on a double-steal for the inning's final run.

Anthony Ottrando hit a solo home run in the bottom of the second, but Austin Peay led, 7-1, heading into the middle of the fourth inning. That's when the Colonels decided to make it a ballgame.

All together in the fourth, Govs starter Stephen Huff walked five Colonels, gave up a pair of singles and a double, accounting for seven Eastern Kentucky runs. Right-hander Dylan Ray replaced Huff, but allowed a two-RBI double to Ottrando - in his second at-bat in the inning - to give EKU its first lead of the day, 8-7.

The seven-run inning was a big blow, but the Govs didn't stall. In fact, they battled right back with four more runs in the sixth, sending nine batters to the plate. Lewellyn got things started with a lead-off home run while Jon Clinard and Cody Hudson followed with a single and a triple, respectively. Jared Delong's pinch-hit RBI-single put the Govs back on top, 11-8.

Back and forth it went as another  two-RBI double by Ottrando put EKU within one run, 11-10, at the end of six. A towering home run by Matt Kole set the stage for the final inning.

In terms of a response to Saturday's poor play, the Govs came out well. The offense put up 19 hits. Lewellyn, Clinard and Hudson each had three hits for the Govs, while Kole, Adam Browett and  John Hogan had two hits apiece.

Putting runs on the board wasn't the issue, Sunday. Five different hurlers took the hill for Austin Peay, three of which surrendered two or more runs. Gerler (2-2) takes the loss after allowing the deciding blow.

"They outplayed us all weekend and now we have to go back to the drawing board," McClure said. "This is a low point for our club. I've got my work cut out to get this team to respond. We've got to go back to work and get some things done."

Things don't get any easier for the Govs as they host Western Kentucky in a 6 p.m., Tuesday, game at Raymond C. Hand Park, before OVC stalwart Jacksonville State comes to town for the weekend.

"This next week will tell a lot about club," said McClure. "We'll see how tough we are and how bad we want to get things done."

-AP-