CLARKSVILLE - Austin Peay State University's baseball team had a sixth-inning lead in both games of its Ohio Valley Conference doubleheader but settled for a split - losing the day's first game, 6-5, before rebounding to win the nightcap, 4-2, against Jacksonville State, Saturday at Raymond C. Hand Park.

Austin Peay (18-17, 4-7 OVC) opened the day with a four-run, first-inning outburst. Designated hitter Matt Kole's two-run triple - the third-straight Govs hit to begin the bottom of the first - was the inning's big blow. Right fielder Adam Browett added a run on his sacrifice fly and third baseman Chris Lewellyn chipped in a run-scoring single to close the scoring.

Jacksonville State (19-16, 7-4) was unable to solve Austin Peay starter Ricky Marshall through the first three-plus innings who did not allow a hit until centerfielder Daniel Adamson's two-out single in the fourth which loaded the bases. Marshall was unable to work out of the jam, hitting the next batter he faced to score a run before getting a strikeout to end the inning.

The Gamecocks got their big inning in the seventh as Marshall put the first two batters he faced on base before leaving the game. The Govs relief corps had trouble recording outs as Zach Gerler was only able to record one out in the five batters he faced before leaving the bases loaded for Dylan Ray. Ray surrendered a bases-loaded walk and a sacrifice fly as JSU scored five runs in the frame to take a 6-5 lead.

The Govs offense meanwhile, scratched out just one more run - on catcher Trey Lucas' RBI single in the fifth - and stranded seven runners after their game-opening outburst as the Gamecocks bullpen nailed down the win.

Tanner Freshour (5-1) picked up the win after holding APSU scoreless over 1.1 innings of relief. Todd Hornsby came on in relief and picked up his season's first save after tossing three scoreless innings.

Marshall was left out of the decision despite holding JSU to three runs on four hits over six-plus innings. Gerler (2-3) was tagged for the loss after allowing three runs in one-third of an inning.

Kole led APSU's offense with a 3-for-5, two RBI performance and three other players had two hits each as APSU finished the game with 13 hits.

JSU second  baseman Bert Smith and Adamson each had two hits to lead the Gamecocks six-hit attack which was helped by APSU's pitching staff which which finished with eight walks and hit three batters.

Jacksonville State struck first in the doubleheader's nightcap, picking up a second-inning run courtesy an Austin Peay error.

Austin Peay rallied to take the lead in the third, scoring three runs with two outs. Kole tied the game with hits RBI single and Browett gave the Govs a 3-1 lead with his two-run double.

The Gamecocks saw a golden opportunity pass them by in the fifth, scoring one run on left fielder Wes Cunningham's single, but leaving runs on second and third as Govs reliever Jeremy Dobbs came to the mound and struck out the first two batters he faced to end the threat.

A pair of Jacksonville State errors in the sixth gave Austin Peay a much-needed insurance run, the most critical of the two miscues coming on third baseman Chris Lewellyn's bases-loaded sacrifice bunt which the pitcher mishandled, allowing a run to score.

Gerler came out to close the contest in the seventh and saw the leadoff batter reach after a Govs error. A wild pitch and a single put two men on with one out but Gerler was able to wriggle free, inducing a popout and groundout to end the game and pick up his season's sixth save.

APSU starter Ryne Harper (4-2) earned the victory after holding Jacksonville State to two runs (one earned) on five hits over 4.1 innings.

JSU starter Hunter Rivers (3-3) suffered the loss after allowing three runs on four hits over 4.2 innings.

The Govs needed just four hits to record the victory, Kole finishing with a pair of hits and an RBI while Browett had one hit and a pair of RBI.

The Gamecocks out-hit the Govs, finishing with eight hits. Bert Smith had two hits in the contest - his seventh-inning single was his 288th career hit, making him the OVC's all-time hits leader.

- AP -