OXFORD, Miss. - Austin Peay State University's baseball team forced extra innings but could not hold off No. 28 Mississippi in a 5-4 loss in 10 innings, Tuesday night, in non-conference action at Oxford-University Stadium.

Mississippi's (8-1) Jordan King started the 10th with a walk and advanced to second on a balk. The Rebels then moved him to third base with a sacrifice hit. Following an intentional walk to put men on the corners, Zach Kirksey hit a sacrifice fly to center field, ending the game.

Austin Peay (5-1) scored first for the first time this season on second baseman Jordan Hankins RBI single in the first inning. The Govs extended their lead to 4-1 with two runs in the fourth and a run in the sixth inning. Center fielder Michael Blanchard's RBI double and right fielder Rolando Gautier's RBI single accounted for the Govs two fourth-inning runs. The Govs lone sixth-inning run was courtesy three walks and two wild pitches issued by Mississippi pitchers.

However, the lead would not hold as the Rebels scored two runs in the seventh and another run in the eighth to tie the game. A stroke of misfortune led to the Govs coughing up two runs in the seventh as a two-out outfield error allowed two runs to score. The Rebels tied the game in the eighth with another two-out RBI single.

Hankins continued his early season tear, going 4-for-4 with two walks and an RBI, moving his season average to a gaudy .750 (15-of-20).

Reliever Andy Cox (0-1) was tagged for the loss after allowing the 10th inning run. He was able to get a ground out to end the ninth and force extra innings but could not retire the only batter he faced in the 10th. Starter Jack Snodgrass went 6.2 innings, allowing one run on four hits and struck seven.

Brett Huber picked up the victory in relief for Mississippi, holding APSU scoreless over the final 2.1 innings and striking out four. Kirksey finished the day 1-for-4 with two RBI.

Austin Peay and Mississippi close out their two-game series with a 6:30 p.m., Wednesday contest.

-AP-