CLARKSVILLE - Austin Peay had a night to forget in a 24-3 non-conference loss to Evansville, Tuesday night, at Raymond C. Hand Park.

Evansville (16-9) broke the game open with a 13-run third inning in which 17 batters came to the plate - the first 10 reaching base safely and eventually scoring - and three Austin Peay pitchers took turns attempting to record outs.  The Purple Aces eventually finished the night with 20 base hits, including seven doubles and four home runs, and took advantage of nine walks and four hit batsmen.

Austin Peay (12-14) scored the game's first run on third baseman Greg Bachman's RBI double. But the Govs would not score again until posting single runs in both the sixth and seventh innings.

The top of the Governors batting order - center fielder Michael Blanchard (2-for-3), right fielder Rolando Gautier (2-for-4) and Bachman (3-for-4) - accounted for seven of the team's nine hits.

Austin Peay starter Eric Davis (0-2) - the first of seven APSU pitchers - suffered the loss after allowing seven runs over two-plus innings.

Evansville's Ryan Billo (2-0) benefited from the offensive outburst for his second win while limiting the Govs to one run on five hits while striking out five over five innings.

First baseman Cody Fick led the Purple Aces with a 3-for-6, three RBI outing that included a pair of home runs. Center fielder Greg Wallace had a two-run home run in the third and third baseman Ryan Oesterle added a leadoff blast in the second.

Austin Peay makes a one-game road trip when it visits Middle Tennessee in a 6 p.m., Wednesday contest at Reese Smith Field.

-AP-