THE LEAD
CLARKSVILLE – First baseman Dre Gleason posted his second-straight four-hit outing and had five RBI to pace Austin Peay State University's baseball team to a 13-6 nonconference victory against Southern Illinois, Tuesday, at Raymond C. Hand Park.
THE GOVERNING MOMENTS
Trailing 1-0 going into the bottom of the first, Austin Peay scored four runs in its half of the frame on four hits. Designated hitter Alex Robles gave the Govs the lead for good with his sacrifice fly. Gleason followed with a two-run single for a 4-1 advantage.
The Govs put the game out of reach in the middle innings, scoring seven total runs in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings. Gleason had a two-run single in the fifth and a RBI triple in the sixth.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
Austin Peay finished with seven extra base hits in its 16-hit attack. The Govs had three home runs with third baseman Logan Gray, shortstop Clayton Smithson and Gleason each hitting their second homer of the short season. Austin Peay also had two doubles (Patrick Massoni and Cayce Bredlau) and two triples (Gleason and Smithson).
Gleason ended up a double shy of the cycle. Gleason hit a home run in the first, singles in both the fifth and eighth innings and added a triple in the sixth.
All nine Austin Peay starters finished the day with a hit, catcher Ridge Smith the last of the starters to post a hit with his infield single in the fifth.
Garrett Copeland extended his reached base safely streak to 36 games with a RBI single in the fourth inning.
APSU starting pitcher Josh Rye picked up his first collegiate victory in his first start (second appearance this season).
THE FULL RECAP
Austin Peay's (3-1) offense got started early and kept pushing throughout the contest. Trailing 1-0 after the top of the first, the Govs responded with four runs on four hits in its half of the inning. Left fielder Cayce Bredlau tied the game with a RBI double and designated hitter Alex Robles followed with a sacrifice fly to give APSU a 2-1 lead.
Gleason followed with a two-run home run – his second straight game with a homer – and put the Govs ahead 4-1. One inning later, shortstop Clayton Smithson drove his second home run of the season – a solo shot that gave APSU a 5-2 lead.
The Govs kept the offensive push going through the middle innings, adding seven runs in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings. The two-run fourth was highlighted by Smithson's RBI triple. The fifth frame saw Gleason drive in two runs with a single. Gleason batted in his fifth run of the day courtesy a triple in the sixth, extending the Govs advantage to 12-6.
Southern Illinois (1-3) had opportunities early in the contest, stranding 10 runners through the first five innings, but could only push three runs across the plate in that span. The Salukis would strike for three runs in the sixth as designated hitter Hunter Anderson hit his season's first home run.
Redshirt freshman Josh Rye (1-0) picked up the win thanks to the Govs offensive outburst, but did his part by hog tying the Salukis offense. He allowed single runs in the first and second innings, but worked around the trouble, stranding six runners on base in his three innings. He would pick up his first win as a Governor after allowing two runs on six hits and striking out five.
Gleason went 4-for-5, including a home run and a triple, with five RBI. Smithson and third baseman Logan Gray also had home runs in the contest. Gray finished the day 2-for-3 with a RBI and two walks while Smithson was 2-for-4 with two RBI. Bredlau and Robles also had two hits each.
The Govs offense finished with 16 hits, including two doubles, two triples and three home runs. Austin Peay left just six men on base for the contest.
Southern Illinois starter Bryce Sablotny (0-1) was tagged for the loss after allowing seven runs on seven hits in four innings.
Anderson paced the SIU offense with a 3-for-5, three RBI day. Left fielder Greg Lambert went 2-for-4 with a RBI. The Salukis finished the day with 11 hits but stranded 12 men on base.
Austin Peay continues its homestand when it hosts the Riverview Inn Governors Challenge, Friday-Sunday. The Govs will face Alcorn State, Connecticut and Missouri State in the round-robin event. Austin Peay will play each day at 3:30 p.m.
