JACKSON, Tenn. - Starter Jack Snodgrass struck out a career-high 11 batters and Austin Peay State University's baseball team took advantage of two ninth-inning errors to pull off a 4-1 victory against Jacksonville State, Friday night, at the Ohio Valley Conference Baseball Championship at Pringles Park.

The contest got started as a pitcher's duel with neither team plating a run through the first 6½ innings - the longest scoreless start to an OVC Tournament game since 2001.

Jacksonville State starter Jordan Beistline allowed just three hits and five base runners before departing with two out in the sixth. He twice retired five consecutive Govs and did not allow a runner to reach scoring position.

Austin Peay starter Jack Snodgrass stole the show in the early going. After being hit on the elbow by a line drive in the third, he did not allow another batter to reach safely until the sixth. Snodgrass struck out five consecutive batters, including the side in order in the fourth.

Jacksonville State (35-22) finally broke up the shutout with a run in the sixth, courtesy an Austin Peay error. Catcher Sam Eberle led off the inning with a double and moved to third before right fielder Kyle Bluestein walked. Snodgrass struck out designated hitter Eric Underwood for the first out.

Second baseman Blake Seguin lined a Snodgrass offering up the middle where Govs second baseman Jordan Hankins made a diving catch for the second out. However, he threw high of first base attempting to get the runner and the ball sailed into the stands, allowing Eberle to score the go-ahead run.

Austin Peay (32-22) rallied immediately as designated hitter Cody Hudson drove a home run over the 24-foot wall in left to tie the game.

Snodgrass would work out of a jam in the seventh, putting two men on with one out. After an intense meeting at the mound where he convinced head coach Gary McClure to leave him in the game, Snodgrass responded with a strikeout and a ground out to end the frame. He would come back out in the eighth and put two men on with two out before McClure made the move to the bullpen. Closer Ryne Harper induced a center field warning-track fly out to end the inning.

The Govs made their move in the ninth, aided by a pair of Gamecocks miscues. Pinch hitter Jon Clinard - seeing his first action in a month - started the rally with a bloop single to right field. Second baseman Jordan Hankins attempted a sacrifice to move the runner, but JSU reliever Jordan Freshour could not grab the ball and the Govs had two runners on.

Jacksonville State brought its infield in and Austin Peay sent up pinch hitter Blake Frazier who missed on a bunt attempt but both runners advanced in the confusion. Frazier lined out without further advancing the runners. Hudson followed by hitting the ball into the drawn in infield, but JSU third baseman Coty Blanchard's throw hit Clinard in the back, allowing him to score the go-ahead run.

After JSU intentionally walked right fielder Rolando Gautier, center fielder Michael Blanchard lined a single up the middle of the drawn-in infield, scoring two insurance runs and putting the Govs ahead 4-1.

Harper made things interesting in the ninth, putting two men on with one out. But he got a line drive out and struck out the final batter he faced to end the game.

Snodgrass did not factor into the decision despite a career-long 7.2-inning outing in which he struck out a career-high 11 batters. He allowed one unearned run on nine hits and two walks. Harper (6-2) picked up the victory by recording the final four outs, including two ninth-inning strikeouts.

Freshour (3-2), the third JSU pitcher, suffered the loss after allowing two unearned runs on one hit in 1.1 innings. Starter Jordan Beistline threw 5.2 scoreless innings and struck out five but did not factor into the decision.

The Govs needed just seven hits in the win, Hudson finishing the game with a 2-for-4, one RBI outing. Blanchard was 1-for-5 with two RBI.

Left fielder Jake Sharrock led Jacksonville State's 10-hit attack with a 3-for-5 outing. Blanchard and Seguin also had two hits each.

Austin Peay advances to the championship round and will face the winner of the Southeast Missouri-Jacksonville State contest in a 3:30 p.m., Saturday matchup. Southeast Missouri advanced to the final game of the loser's bracket with a pair of convincing victories against UT Martin (12-7) and Tennessee Tech (6-1) earlier, Saturday.

-AP-