CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. - Austin Peay's baseball team came out
swinging in its Ohio Valley Conference doubleheader against Southeast Missouri,
Saturday, at Capaha Field and picked up a split - winning the series opener,
8-4, before falling 2-1 in the nightcap.
Austin Peay (24-24, 5-12 OVC) used a five-run second inning
and scored the game's first eight runs en route to the victory. The Govs sent
nine men to the plate in the second - shortstop Reed Harper, second baseman Jon Clinard and centerfielder Jared DeLong batting in a run before designated
hitter Matt Kole wrapped up the frame with a two-run double.
The Govs would add a run in
the fifth and two more in the sixth, including third baseman Chris Lewellyn's
sixth-inning leadoff home run.
Govs starter Stephen Huff
(5-5) benefited from the offensive outburst and pitched in and out of jams
throughout his outing. He held Southeast Missouri scoreless through five innings
before allowing four runs in the sixth inning, three scoring after an error
that extended the inning. Huff finished the game allowing four runs on six hits
and five walks but struck out seven batters.
Clinard and first baseman John Hogan each had three hits to pace Austin Peay's 11-hit offensive attack.
Southeast Missouri starter
Nick Thomas (6-2) took the loss in game one after allowing eight runs on eight
hits over 5.1 innings. Shortstop Kenton Parmley had three hits to lead
Southeast Missouri's nine-hit output.
The nightcap turned into a
pitcher's duel with Austin Peay starter Ricky Marshall and Southeast Missouri
starter Shae Simmons battling to a 1-1 tie through five innings.
Southeast Missouri (28-21,
11-7) manufactured its run in the second inning, as first baseman Brett Russell
reached on a one-out walk and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt. Second
baseman Tim Rupp slapped a single into the right-centerfield gap to score the
run.
Austin Peay leveled the score
in the fifth courtesy a pair of Southeast Missouri errors. With Lewellyn on
first base and one out leftfielder Cody Hudson belted a ball to the warning
track in left field. SEMO leftfielder Michael Adamson appeared to make the
catch but dropped the ball allowing the runners to reach second and third base.
Clinard followed that with a
line-drive to left field allowing
Lewellyn to scamper home with game-tying run , Adamson's throw went wide
of the plate, allowing Hudson to reach third. However, Delong could not capitalize
on the miscue, popping out to end the inning.
Adamson made amends for his
two errors with one swing of his bat in the sixth, leading off the frame with a
solo home run to left-center field that proved to be the game winner.
Marshall (6-6) was the
hard-luck loser allowing two runs on five hits over the complete-game
six-inning outing.
Kyle Gumieny (8-1) picked up
the victory in relief, holding the Govs scoreless in the sixth and seventh
innings. Redhawks starter Shae Simmons, making his season's first start,
allowed one uneared run on two hits over five innings.
"I'm proud of Ricky Marshall
and Stephen Huff, they both battled on the mound today," said Govs acting head
coach Joel Mangrum. "I felt Ricky made a quality pitch (to Adamson) in the
sixth inning but give the batter credit he hit a good pitch. Huff was like a
magician at times out there. He willed himself into situations and willed
himself out of them. They both pitched well enough to win today."
Austin Peay and Southeast
Missouri wrap up their series with a 1 p.m. contest today.
NOTES: Austin Peay head coach
Gary McClure was not present for Saturday's games due to illness... assistant
coach Joel Mangrum served as acting head coach for the doubleheader... Austin
Peay remains alive for a spot in the OVC Baseball Tournament despite the split.
