THE LEAD
NASHVILLE – A trio of home runs catapulted Austin Peay State University's baseball team to a 6-3 Ohio Valley Conference victory against Belmont, Sunday afternoon at E.S. Rose Park. With the win, Austin Peay clinched the three-game series, 2-1, for its fourth straight OVC series victory.

HOW IT HAPPENED}
Austin Peay used the long ball to great effect against Belmont. Designated hitter Alex Robles got the day's scoring started with a solo home run in the second.

The Govs had a chance to break the game open in the fourth, loading the bases with no outs. But Belmont starter Tyler Vaughn allowed just one run to score – on an infield single – striking out two of the next four batters. 

Belmont grabbed a 3-2 lead after scoring two runs following an Austin Peay error in the sixth. But the Bruins lead would not last a full inning as Govs first baseman Dre Gleason hit a two-run home run to break a 3-3 tie and give APSU the lead for good.

Austin Peay starter Caleb Powell allowed one hit in the first five innings, but allowed two in the sixth inning. The Govs bullpen shut the door, combining for three scoreless, hitless frames to end the game.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
Jared Carkuff picked up his season's second save, and finished the four-game road trip without allowing a run in three appearances. He went 2-0 with the save, allowing three hits in 7.1 innings (.083 opponents' batting average) while striking out seven.

For the second time in five days, Austin Peay won a game when trailing after six innings. The Govs entered the week 0-11 when trailing after six but claimed come-from-behind wins against Memphis and Belmont to end the streak.

With the 2-1 series victory, Austin Peay has won all four of its OVC series against Belmont since the Bruins joined the OVC.

THE FULL RECAP
Trailing by a single run after six innings, Austin Peay (21-13, 12-6 OVC) began its seventh-inning rally with one out on the board. Second baseman Garrett Copeland singled in front of center fielder Chase Hamilton, whose ground-rule double gave APSU a prime scoring opportunity.

Third baseman Logan Gray drove in the game-tying run with a sacrifice fly. However, it was first baseman Dre Gleason's two-run home run to left that gave APSU a 5-3 advantage. The Governors would tack on a key insurance run in the eighth when catcher Ridge Smith hit a leadoff home run for a 6-3 lead.

Austin Peay's bullpen made the late rally stand up with three pitchers combining to toss three scoreless, hitless innings to finish the game. First out of the pen, reliever Brett Newburg (2-0) retired a batter to end the sixth, but left two runners on base with one out in the seventh. After the Govs rally, Zach Neff took the mound and induced a fly out and a fielder's choice to end the threat.

Closer Jared Carkuff took the bump in the eighth and would retire all six batters he faced for his season's second save. He struck out the final two batters he faced to clinch the victory.

Austin Peay starter Caleb Powell was left with no decision despite holding Belmont to one hit in the first five innings. He would get in trouble in the sixth as a Govs error extended the inning. The Bruins took advantage as catcher Clay Payne hit a RBI double to tie the game and center fielder Tyler Walsh hit a RBI single to give Belmont a 3-2 lead and end Powell's outing.

Copeland led Austin Peay with a 3-for-5 performance while Gray and Smith each added a 2-for-4 outing. Designated hitter Alex Robles had the Govs first home run, his solo home run in the second part of a 1-for-3 day.

Belmont reliever Kyle Klotz (3-3) was tagged for two runs on two hits while recording two outs in the seventh inning. Walsh went 2-for-3 to lead the Bruins offense.

Austin Peay begins a four-game home stand when it hosts Lipscomb in a 6 p.m., Tuesday contest at Raymond C. Hand Park.