THE LEAD
CLARKSVILLE – Austin Peay State University's baseball team scored the game's first six runs then held on late to claim an 8-6 Ohio Valley Conference victory against Southeast Missouri, Saturday afternoon at Raymond C. Hand Park. The Govs clinch the three-game league set with the win, Game 3 to be played at 1 p.m., Sunday.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Austin Peay broke up a scoreless affair through three innings with six consecutive runs. First baseman Dre Gleason had a RBI double in both the Govs two-run fourth and three-run fifth as they jumped out to a 6-0 lead.
Southeast Missouri would battle back, scoring its six runs in the final three innings. The Redhawks closed to within a run, 6-5, after second baseman Trevor Ezell's two-run triple in the eighth.
The Governors responded with a two-run eighth inning as second baseman Garrett Copeland supplied the eventual game-securing RBI with a single and third baseman Ridge Smith tacked on the Govs final run with a single.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
APSU starter Michael Costanzo continued his love affair with Raymond C. Hand Park, improving to 5-0 in five home starts this season. He did not allow a run through his five innings, lowering his ERA to 2.01 as opponents are hitting just .168 against him at RCHP.
First baseman Dre Gleason had his second straight multi-hit performance, going 2-for-4 with two doubles. He has five hits, three for doubles, in the first two games of the series. He is hitting .452 at home in 2016.
Center fielder Patrick Massoni saw his hit streak snapped at 13 games but reached base safely via a fifth inning walk and has reached safely in 14 consecutive games. Also extending their reached base safely streaks were right fielder Chase Hamilton (16 games), second baseman Garrett Copeland (13) and Gleason (12).
The win was Austin Peay's eight consecutive home win and they improved to 13-3 at Raymond C. Hand Park. It also assured APSU of its first OVC series win against SEMO since 2012.
THE FULL RECAP
After three scoreless frames, Austin Peay (18-11, 10-4 OVC) got on the scoreboard first with a two-run fourth inning. Third baseman Ridge Smith led off with a walk and scored when first baseman Dre Gleason doubled off the top of the center field wall. Two batters later left fielder Kyle Blackburn's single to right field allowed Gleason to score for the early 2-0 lead.
The Governors added three runs to its lead in the fifth as its capitalized on a pair of walks. Smith tallied his second RBI with a sacrifice fly in front of another Gleason RBI double, this one down the right field line. After a Southeast Missouri error extended the inning, right fielder Chase Hamilton drove in a run with a single through the right side for a 5-0 lead.
A third Southeast Missouri error helped the Austin Peay cause in the sixth. Catcher Alex Sala led off with a single and advanced to second on a wild pitch. He would score on a simply fly out to center field when the throw to third base eluded the defense, giving APSU a 6-0 lead.
Southeast Missouri (21-10, 12-2 OVC) would break through in the seventh off the Governors bullpen. A pair of one out walks would be cashed in as right fielder Hunter Leeper and left fielder Garrett Gandolfo each drove in a run, cutting the APSU lead to 6-2.
One inning later and with a new Govs pitcher on the mound, the Redhawks would get even closer. With two outs, four consecutive SEMO batters would reach base safely. Second baseman Trevor Ezell's two run triple into the right field corner did the biggest damage, SEMO closing to within a run, 6-5, at inning's end.
Austin Peay stemmed the Redhawks charge in its half of the eighth when second baseman Garrett Copeland and Smith each belted RBI singles to extend the APSU lead to three runs again, 8-5. Southeast Missouri would tack on a run courtesy Gandolfo's leadoff home run in the ninth, but could not close the gap further.
Governors starter Michael Costanzo (5-2) remained unbeaten in five starts at Raymond C. Hand Park, tossing five scoreless innings against the Redhawks. He would allow four hits and walked two batters, but struck out six of the 20 batters he faced.
Smith finished the day 1-for-3 officially with two RBI, a sacrifice fly and a walk. Gleason went 2-for-3 with a pair of doubles and two RBI. Copeland and Blackburn also had two hits each in APSU's 11-hit outing.
Southeast Missouri starter Clay Chandler (4-1) was tagged for his season's first loss after allowing five runs (four earned) on four hits and four walks in 4.2 innings.
Gandolfo led Southeast Missouri's offense with a 2-for-4, two RBI effort. First baseman Ryan Rippee also had two hits as the duo led the Redhawks' 10-hit effort.
Austin Peay and Southeast Missouri close the three-game series with a 1 p.m., Sunday contest. The Governors will send right-hander Caleb Powell (3-1, 3.71 ERA) to the mound against Redhawks' left-hander Robert Beltran (3-1, 3.40 ERA).
