THE LEAD
MACON, Ga. – Austin Peay State University's baseball team could not keep Mercer off the board in a 14-4 nonconference loss, Sunday afternoon, at Claude Smith Stadium. With the win, Mercer claimed the three-game series, 2-1.

HOW IT HAPPENED
For the first time in the series, Mercer scored the game's first five runs. The Bears hit two home runs in the early going, catcher Charlie Madden tacking on a two-run short in the first and right fielder Trey Truitt chipped in a solo shot in the fourth to set the 5-0 lead.

Austin Peay would break through in the fifth courtesy shortstop Clayton Smithson's two-run home run. However, Mercer responded in its half of the inning. That theme would carry through the rest of the game – Austin Peay scoring and Mercer responding – en route to the final score.  

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
The Govs finished with 10 home runs in the series, accounting for 16 of their 27 runs scored. Dre Gleason had three home runs while Logan Gray and Ridge Smith each had two home runs, Alex Robles, Cayce Bredlau and Clayton Smithson had one home run each.

Dre Gleason hit a solo home run in the sixth, extending his hit streak to nine games and giving him a home run in three straight games. He also extended his reached base safely streak to 26 games.

Logan Gray was held to 0-for-4 at the plate and saw his streak of 22 games reaching safely come to an end.

Chase Hamilton started a game for the first time since May 12, 2015 and made his first right field start since March 17, 2015. .

THE FULL RECAP
After Austin Peay (5-6) jumped out to the early lead in the series' first two games, Mercer (9-3) turned the gables in the series finale. The Bears struck for three runs in the first, including catcher Charlie Madden's two-run home run. Mercer tacked on single runs in the third and fourth to build a 5-0 lead.

The Governors would break through in the fifth when shortstop Clayton Smithson hit a two-run home run to right field. But Mercer responded in its half of the frame when Madden hit a solo home run – his second of the game.

Austin Peay got that run back in the sixth as first baseman Dre Gleason drove a solo home run to right field, getting APSU within 6-3. The Bears responded emphatically in their half of the inning, scoring four runs courtesy a home run, two doubles and a single, pushing their lead to 10-3 and never looked back.

Governors starter Zach Neff (0-3) suffered the loss after allowing six runs on seven hits in five innings.

Designated hitter Alex Robles and second baseman Garrett Copeland each had two hits in the Govs 10-hit outing.

Mercer starter Kevin Coulter (2-0) held Austin Peay scoreless for four innings and allowed just three runs on eight hits in 5.2 innings.

Madden finished the day 3-for-5 with five RBI, driving in a run in each of his four plate appearances. Center fielder Kyle Lewis also was 3-for-5 but with three RBI, driving in runs with a pair of doubles and a solo home run.

Austin Peay continues its six-game road trip when it opens a two-game midweek series with a 6:30 p.m., Tuesday contest at Arkansas State.