COLUMBUS, Ohio - Sophomore starting pitcher Ryan Quick put forth another superb outing, but Austin Peay State University's baseball team continued to struggle offensively in a 4-3, 13-inning loss to Ohio State, Friday afternoon, at Bill Davis Stadium.

Quick registered his fifth consecutive quality start to begin his career, surrendering only three runs on six hits over seven innings while striking out five. The Govs were able to rally and tied the game with two runs in the seventh and a run in the eighth. Yet the run support didn't come soon enough as Quick suffered his fourth no decision this season.  

After Quick's departure the Govs bullpen again provided consistent quality relief, not allowing a run over the next four innings. Junior reliever Tyler Rogers struggled without his best stuff and had to work out of bases loaded, one out situations in both the ninth and 11th innings.

The Govs luck at putting Ohio State (9-6) runners on base slowly started to run its course. In the 12th, OSU saw its first two batters hit by a pitch, but APSU reliever Zane Leffew battled back to retire the side. However, Leffew walked the first two batters in the 13th and the Govs could not escape as reliever Chuck Edlin surrendered a walk-off single to Josh Dezse.

Austin Peay (9-8) saw two critical base-running gaffes hinder its opportunity to pull off the win. In the first, Austin Peay thought it had manufactured a run on senior third baseman Greg Bachman's fly ball with a runner on third and one out. But the Govs saw senior designated hitter Jon Clinard called out at third base for leaving too early.

Then in the 13th, sophomore Jordan Hankins led off with a single and the Govs attempted to press the advantage. But junior shortstop Reed Harper popped up his bunt attempt, which was caught by the OSU first baseman and turned into a double play as Hankins strayed too far from first. Austin Peay would take advantage of two Buckeyes' errors to put men on second and third, but OSU escaped the threat by striking out freshman Mason Dillon.

Leffew (0-1) suffered the loss after allowing one run over one-plus inning of relief.  Rogers threw 3.1 innings of scoreless relief but walked four batters intentionally and allowed two hits.

Clinard finished the night 2-for-5 with two RBI - his seventh inning, two-run single getting the Govs on the board. The Govs third run came courtesy an OSU passed ball in the seventh.

Ohio State reliever John Kuchno (3-0) picked up the win after throwing five scoreless innings, striking out six Govs batters. OSU starter Jaron Long went seven innings, allowing three runs (two earned) on eight hits.

Desze finished the game 2-for-5 with two RBI, including a solo home run in the fifth. Third baseman Brad Hallberg and left fielder Joe Ciamacco each had two hits with each recording an RBI on their back-to-back singles in the fourth.

Austin Peay and Ohio State continue their three-game series with a 2:05 p.m., Saturday contest.

-AP-