THE LEAD
CLARKSVILLE – Austin Peay State University's baseball team fell into a big hole early and could not climb out in a 17-3 nonconference loss to Middle Tennessee, Tuesday afternoon at Raymond C. Hand Park.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Middle Tennessee broke out of the gate quickly, scoring the game's first 10 runs before the third inning expired. A six-run second inning, with 11 men getting a turn at the plate, proved enough to break the game open.
Austin Peay scored just three runs despite earning a season-high 11 walks and recording nine hits. The Governors also had six at-bats with the bases loaded, but were unable to post a hit in those opportunities.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
Third baseman Logan Gray posted his second four-hit outing of 2016, finishing the day 4-for-5. The junior is just two games shy of qualifying for NCAA and OVC statistics (minimum 75 percent of team's games played) while leading APSU in batting average (.381).
Center fielder Patrick Massoni had APSU's other multi-hit effort, going 2-for-6. Right fielder Chase Hamilton, first baseman Alex Robles and catcher Alex Sala each posted a RBI.
Senior Josh Wilson was called on to make his first pitching appearance for Austin Peay, pitching a scoreless ninth thanks to the defense's turning its lone double play of the game.
THE FULL RECAP
Middle Tennessee (18-31) wasted no time getting on the scoreboard, scoring three runs in the first inning as part of a 10-run opening barrage over the first three frames. The Blue Raiders broke the game open when 11 batters came to the plate in a six-run second inning.
Austin Peay (28-18) was unable to plate runs until the fifth inning when they sent eight men to the plate. Right fielder Chase Hamilton delivered APSU's first run with a sacrifice fly and first baseman Alex Robles drove in a second run with a bases-loaded fielder's choice.
But the Blue Raiders posted another five runs in the sixth. Right fielder Kaleb King removing any doubt to the outcome with a three-run home run to right center, extending the MTSU lead to 13-2.
Middle Tennessee finished with 19 hits with second baseman Austin Dennis leading the way with a 4-for-4, three RBI outing. First baseman Aaron Aucker and left fielder Blake Benefield each had three hits. 10 different MTSU hitters recorded a hit.
Reliever Carson Lester (2-0) was credited with the win after allowing one run over 2.1 innings of relief. MTSU starter Sam Alton was lifted with two outs left in the fourth and did not factor into the decision.
Austin Peay's offense finished with nine hits but earned a season-high 11 walks. The Governors did not want for scoring opportunities with six batters coming to the plate with the bases loaded, but all six failed to record a hit. Austin Peay left 17 batters on base in the contest.
Third baseman Logan Gray finished the day 4-for-5 and center fielder Patrick Massoni went 2-for-6 at the plate.
APSU starter John Sparks was tagged for the loss after two innings of work.
Austin Peay begins a five-game road trip when it meets Evansville in a 6 p.m., Wednesday contest at Braun Stadium.
