COOKEVILLE - Austin Peay State University's baseball team could not solve Tennessee Tech starting pitcher Tristan Archer in a 5-0 Ohio Valley Conference loss, Thursday night, at Bush Stadium.

Tennessee Tech (21-30, 10-14 OVC) is in must-win territory to maintain its hopes of qualifying for next weekend's six-team OVC Tournament and Archer (4-4) showed the Golden Eagles fight. He struck out a career-high 13 batters in the win and limiting the Govs to four hits over 8.1 innings.

The senior right-hander allowed three of those base hits to the first 11 batters he faced. Austin Peay senior designated hitter Jon Clinard had the last of those hits - a third-inning single - before Archer retired nine consecutive hitters, including seven via strikeouts.

Austin Peay (32-21-, 17-7 OVC) had Archer on the ropes in the sixth and seventh innings, placing two runners on base with two outs and forcing the TTU bullpen to warm up, but could not knock the starter out of the game as he retired the next batter he faced.

Govs starter Zach Toney (5-3) suffered his season's  first OVC loss after allowing four runs on eight hits over 6.2 innings. The bulk of the damage was done by a pair of Tennessee Tech home runs. Right fielder Zaphan Guyear broke up the scoreless tie with a solo home run in the fifth. First baseman Zach Stephens blasted his season's 18th home run - a two-run shot in the sixth.

The Golden Eagles added a third home run off the Govs bullpen, designated hitter Ben Burgess wrapping  up the home run barrage with a leadoff shot in the eighth.

Burgess ended the night 3-for-3 with an RBI and two runs scored.  Left fielder James Abraham and third baseman Michael Morris each added two hits.

Austin Peay second baseman Jordan Hankins was the only Govs hitter to escape the evening without a strikeout but was 0-for-3 with a walk. Clinard, left fielder Cody Hudson, catcher Matt Wollenzin and right fielder Rolando gautier each had one of Austin Peay's four this.

The Govs, who are now tied for the OVC league lead after Eastern Kentucky defeated Murray State earlier in the day, resume their OVC series against Tennessee Tech with a 6 p.m., Friday contest.

NOTES: The shutout was the first suffered by Austin Peay since a 1-0, weather-shortened six-inning loss at SIU Edwardsville last season... it was the Govs first nine-inning shutout loss since April 2, 2010 at Eastern Illinois, which also was Austin Peay last conference shutout loss... first baseman Tyler Childress reached base safely for the 21st consecutive game, extending the streak with a ninth-inning walk...

-AP-