CLARKSVILLE - Starting pitcher Zach Toney threw a complete-game two-hit shutout to lead Austin Peay State University's baseball team past Morehead State, 8-0, Friday night in Ohio Valley Conference action at Raymond C. Hand Park.

Toney (5-2) won his third straight outing and became the first Austin Peay hurler since 2007 to toss a nine-inning complete game shutout. Former Gov - and current member of the Seattle Mariners - Shawn Kelley threw a six-hit shutout against UT Martin that season.

It was a masterful outing for the Govs senior southpaw as he retired the first seven batters he faced before allowing a third inning walk. After allowing a leadoff single in the fifth - the first hit he allowed - he retired the next 10 batters he faced before allowing a walk in the eighth. Toney faced a batter in scoring position just twice, once in the third and again in the ninth, but worked his way out of the jam both times.

Toney struck out a season-high 10 batters with a strike out in every inning but the second. He walked three batters, including Morehead State center fielder Duran Elmore who walked twice, and allowed two singles.

Meanwhile, the Austin Peay (30-19, 15-6 OVC) offense was chugging away. Morehead State starter Aaron Goe held the Govs in check for the first two innings, but saw the first three batters in the third reach on consecutive singles. Austin Peay capitalized with successive sacrifice flies by designated hitter Jon Clinard and second baseman Jordan Hankins. Shortstop Reed Harper drove in the inning's third run with a single and APSU led 3-0 after three innings.

The Govs added two runs in the fifth inning courtesy Hankins' two-run single. A three-run sixth was punctuated by RBI singles from right fielder Rolando Gautier, center fielder Michael Blanchard and Clinard to extend the lead to 8-0.

Goe (5-5) suffered the loss after allowing eight runs on 12 hits over 5.1 innings.  Third baseman Andrew Deeds and shortstop Chase Greenwell had the Eagles lone hits.

Gautier led Austin Peay's 13-hit attack with a 3-for-4, RBI outing. Hankins finished the day 2-for-2 with a walk, sacrifice fly and three RBI while Clinard added two RBI as part of a 1-for-4 outing.

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

NOTES: The shutout was Austin Peay's second this season, they posted a combined shutout against UT Martin, March 31... Former Gov and current Colorado Rockies pitcher Matt Reynolds threw a seven-inning complete game shutout (after Kelley's shutout that same season) against Eastern Kentucky on May 18, 2007 - his opponent was recent Colorado Rockies call-up Christian Freidrich, who also threw a complete game in a contest that finished with a 1-0 score... Austin Peay third baseman Greg Bachman recorded his school record 56th career double in the 4th inning - it was his only hit on the evening.

-AP-