THE LEAD
CLARKSVILLE – Left fielder Logan Gray hit a home run to put Austin Peay State University's baseball team ahead early and added another blast late to help secure a 14-4 Ohio Valley Conference victory against Eastern Kentucky, Sunday, at Raymond C. Hand Park. With the win, the Governors swept the three-game OVC series.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Austin Peay opened the scoring in the first thanks to Gray's two-run home run to the deepest part of Hand Park. The Governors extended their lead to 6-0 in the second as five straight batters reached base, Gray suppling the sixth run with a ground out.
Eastern Kentucky closed the gap in the middle innings, scoring in four consecutive frames. Third baseman Mandy Alvarez was responsible for the Colonels runs in both the sixth and seventh innings, hitting a leadoff home run then adding a RBI single.
The Governors shut the door with the game's final seven runs. Gray again had a hand in Austin Peay's big inning, leading off the eighth with a solo home run. First baseman Dre Gleason hit a three-run line drive home run to right and the Govs clinched the series sweep.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
Austin Peay swept an OVC series for the third time this season (Eastern Illinois, Murray State and Eastern Kentucky). The Governors edged to within 1½ games of second-place Jacksonville State, which lost its OVC series, 2-1, to league-leading Southeast Missouri.
Playing an entire three-game OVC set for the first time since last season, Gray feasted on Eastern Kentucky's pitching throughout the set. He finished the weekend batting .615 (8-for-13) with two doubles, three home runs and 11 RBI.
Chase Hamilton went 2-for-5 in Sunday's finale and finished the EKU series batting .500 (6-for-12) with two doubles, two home runs and four RBI.
The Govs middle infield duo of second baseman Garrett Copeland and shortstop Clayton Smithson again showed off the leather with a pair of "Gold Star" plays, Sunday. Copeland made a sliding stop and threw from his knees for an out in the third inning. The duo combined on a beautiful double play in the ninth, Smithson making a ranging snag of a ground ball to his right and made a cross-body throw to Copeland to start the twin killing.
THE FULL RECAP
Austin Peay (24-13, 14-6 OVC) scored the game's first six runs. Gray was responsible for the first two as he hit a home run to straight-away center field in the first inning. In the second, the Governors saw five straight batters reach base with four runs scoring, Gray supplying another RBI on a ground out to put APSU ahead 6-0.
Eastern Kentucky (17-24, 7-11 OVC) eased its way back into the game by scoring in four consecutive innings. Third baseman Mandy Alvarez drove in runs with a leadoff home run in the sixth and a single in the seventh as the Colonels closed to three runs, 7-4.
The Govs responded by scoring the game's final seven runs. Designated hitter Kyle Blackburn got one run back in the seventh with a sacrifice fly. But Austin Peay broke the game open with a six-run eighth inning.
Gray hit a leadoff home run to start the rally and two batters later first baseman Dre Gleason powered a three-run home run to right field. Austin Peay would tack on the game's final runs courtesy shortstop Clayton Smithson's RBI double and second baseman Garrett Copeland's sacrifice fly.
Gray posted an RBI in four of his five plate appearances, finishing the day 3-for-5 with five RBI and two home runs. Gleason, Smithson and catcher Ridge Smith each added three hits. Austin Peay's 18-hit barrage was its best showing since March's final game.
Austin Peay starter Caleb Powell (4-2) was the beneficiary of the offensive outburst, picking up his season's first OVC win. He held the Colonels to three runs on eight hits while striking out a career-high tying seven batters.
The Governors bullpen surrendered its first run of the series on Alvarez' RBI single in the seventh, but it was the only run it allowed in the series. Closer Jared Carkuff picked up his fourth save with 2.1 scoreless innings, striking out three.
Eastern Kentucky finished with 12 hits as designated hitter Kyle Nowlin and second baseman Alex Holderback each went 3-for-4. Alvarez finished the day 2-for-4 with two RBI.
EKU starter Nick Cumpston (2-4) suffered the loss after allowing six runs on five hits and two walks in the opening 1.1 innings.
Austin Peay continues its busy stretch when it meets nationally-ranked Vanderbilt in a 1 p.m., Tuesday contest at Hawkins Field in Nashville.
