NASHVILLE – Sophomore third baseman Logan Gray and sophomore designated hitter Alex Robles teamed up at the plate to help Austin Peay State University's baseball team rally for a 5-2 victory against Lipscomb, Wednesday, at Ken Dugan Field.
Trailing 2-1 in the fourth, Austin Peay (4-2) tied the game in the fifth when Robles' RBI double pushed home junior first baseman Josh Wilson, who led off the inning with a walk. Later in the inning the Govs had runners on second and third with one out, but could not capitalize leaving the game tied 2-2.
The Govs broke the tie with some timely bunting in the eighth. Sophomore center fielder Chase Hamilton led off with a bunt single then junior catcher Chase Mitchell followed with another bunt and was ruled safe at first. Junior shortstop Clayton Smithson then moved the runners with a sacrifice bunt. Gray helped the Govs cash in on the opportunity with a RBI single to left field, breaking the tie. Mitchell then would score as Gray got caught in rundown, giving APSU a 4-2 lead.
Austin Peay added another insurance run in the ninth when sophomore first baseman Dre Gleason led off the inning with a single and advanced to second on a balk. Robles made Lipscomb pay for the miscue with a double to the left field wall, giving APSU a 5-2 lead.
The late rally helped make a winner of sophomore Levi Primasing (1-0), who was the first man out of the bullpen. He tossed 1.2 scoreless innings, allowing one hit and striking out one. Reliever A.J. Gaura recorded the game's final four outs to earn his season's first save. Robles was the Govs starting pitcher and allowed two runs on five hits in six innings of work.
At the plate, Robles finished 2-for-4 with two doubles and two RBI. Gray ended the day 2-for-4 with a RBI.
Lipscomb's John Pryor (0-1) suffered the loss after allowing two unearned runs in his 2.2 innings of work. Shortstop Grant Massey was 1-for-4 with two RBI to lead the Bisons offense.
Austin Peay returns home to begin a three-game series against Western Michigan. The Govs and Broncos will start their series with a 2 p.m., Friday contest at Raymond C. Hand Park.
