Box Score THE LEAD
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Austin Peay State University's baseball team saw the script from its Game 1 victory used against it in a 14-3 Ohio Valley Conference loss to Tennessee Tech, Saturday, at Bush Stadium.
HOW IT HAPPENED
In Game 1 Austin Peay jumped out to an early 5-0 lead and cruised to a win. In Game 2, Tennessee Tech flipped that script and scored five runs in the first inning and did look back. Right fielder Kevin Strohschein delivered the game's biggest blow with a grand slam to cap the five-run burst.
TTU pitching kept APSU's offense in check, allowing just three runs on six hits and five walks. The Govs loaded the bases in the second with one out, but could not scratch out a run. It proved a pivotal moment as two of APSU's three runs came after Tennessee Tech errors.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
Austin Peay's offense was held to a season-low six hits at Tennessee Tech. The Govs three runs were their third-lowest total this season.
Outfielder Kyle Blackburn extended his hit streak to 11 games – the longest active streak among Governors hitters. Outfielder Patrick Massoni's hit streak reached 10 games while outfielder Chase Hamilton reached base safely for a 12th consecutive game.
THE FULL RECAP
In the series' first game, Austin Peay (15-10, 7-4 OVC) scored five runs in the second inning and cruised to the win. Saturday, Tennessee Tech scored five runs in the first inning and never looked back.
Tennessee Tech (14-11, 6-5 OVC) saw its big first inning punctuated by right fielder Kevin Strohschein's two-out grand slam. The blast put the Golden Eagles ahead 5-0, their first lead of the series.
The Govs got two of those runs back in the third thanks to a pair of Golden Eagles errors on designated hitter Alex Robles' ground ball, leading to an APSU run. Right fielder Chase Hamilton supplied the second run with a ground out, but APSU would strand a runner at third.
The Golden Eagles responded in kind in their half of the third. Austin Peay was charged with two errors, leading to five unearned runs in a six-run frame that broke the game open.
Tennessee Tech reliever Ethan Roberts (3-0) allowed one unearned run in his 5.1 innings of work for the win. He would strike out six of the 20 batters he faced while issuing one walk after entering the game in the third inning.
Austin Peay starter Michael Costanzo (4-2) remained winless on the road after he was lifted in the third inning. He was charged with the loss after allowing 11 runs (six earned) on five hits and five walks in 2.2 innings.
Strohschein led Tennessee Tech's offense with a 3-for-5, five RBI performance. Third baseman Trevor Putzig went 2-for-5 with four RBI, including a two-run home run in the fifth inning.
Austin Peay's offense was held to six hits, scattered among six different hitters. Second baseman Garrett Copeland was held hitless but had two walks and a RBI groundout in the contest.
Austin Peay and Tennessee Tech will play the rubber match of the three-game set at 1 p.m., Sunday.
