THE LEAD
BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – Junior starting pitcher Caleb Powell allowed one run over six innings as Austin Peay State University's baseball team topped Western Kentucky, 16-2, in nonconference action, Tuesday night, at Nick Denes Field.
THE GOVERNING MOMENTS
After Western Kentucky scored the game's first run, Austin Peay scored the next five. Designated hitter Alex Robles handed Austin Peay the lead for good with his RBI single in the third. However, it was the Govs three runs following a Hilltoppers' error in the third that gave APSU a comfortable lead.
Powell provided Austin Peay his second straight quality start and was rewarded with is second straight win. He would surrender his lone run in the second but followed with four scoreless frames, striking out batters to end the fourth, fifth and sixth frames.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
Utility man Ridge Smith saw his career-best 12-game hit streak come to an end with a 0-for-2 outing, but walked three times (scoring each time) to extend his reached base safely streak to 13 games.
Eleven Govs recorded a hit in the contest, including freshman catcher Alex Sala who notched his first collegiate hit with a fourth-inning single that helped spark the game-clinching three-run rally.
Four Govs finished with a multi-hit outing, led by shortstop Clayton Smithson's 3-for-4 outing that including a walk as he scored four times.
Austin Peay snapped a four-game losing streak against Western Kentucky with Tuesday's win. It also was the Govs second road win in 2016, ending a five-game road losing streak.
THE FULL RECAP
Western Kentucky (11-9) scored the game's first run in the second inning when three of its first four hitters reached base safely, beginning with second baseman Leiff Clarkson's leadoff single. One out later shortstop Steven DiPuglia and center fielder Grant Malott hit back-to-back singles, Malott's driving in Clarkson for the 1-0 lead.
Austin Peay (10-9) did not allow that lead to stand for long, striking for two runs in the top of the third. Third baseman TJ Conroy tied the game with a run-scoring groundout that drove in shortstop Clayton Smithson, who led off the frame with a single. Designated hitter Alex Robles would give APSU the lead with a RBI single that drove in outfielder Ridge Smith.
The Govs padded their lead with a three-run fourth inning that was helped largely by a Western Kentucky error. After three consecutive one-out singles, WKU reliever Logan Weins appeared to serve up a ground ball for an inning-ending double play. However, the ball was mishandled before an out could be recorded, allowing a run to score.
Austin Peay would tack on two more runs after the miscue. Smith driving in a run with a sacrifice fly followed by first baseman Dre Gleason's RBI single for a 5-1 lead.
Powell (2-1) would make that run support stand up, holding Western Kentucky to its one second-inning run over his six-inning outing. He would strike out five, including three strikeouts to end innings, while allowing six hits and three walks.
Austin Peay would break the game open late, scoring five runs in the eighth inning and another six in the ninth. Robles would add a two-run double in the eighth. Josh Wilson, who entered the game in the seventh, chipped in a two-run single in the ninth.
Smithson led Austin Peay's 16-hit attack with a 3-for-4, four-run scored performance. Robles went 2-for-4 with three RBI and Gleason added a 2-for-4 with three RBI effort. Eleven different Govs recorded a hit in the contest.
Western Kentucky starter Cody Coll (0-1) allowed two runs on four hits in three innings, but was handed the loss as the Govs never trailed after taking the lead. The Hilltoppers used seven pitchers in the contest.
Third baseman Danny Hudzina and right fielder Kaleb Duckworth each had two hits in WKU's nine-hit offensive outing.
Austin Peay returns home for a three-game Ohio Valley Conference series against Murray State. The Easter Weekend set is scheduled to begin with a 6 p.m., Thursday contest at Raymond C. Hand Park.
