THE LEAD
CLARKSVILLE – Junior right fielder Chase Hamilton hit a pair of solo home runs and sparked a four-run rally to help push Austin Peay State University's baseball team past UT Martin, 8-3, in the Ohio Valley Conference series opener, Friday night, at Raymond C. Hand Park.
HOW IT HAPPENED
UT Martin struck in the first inning when catcher Daniel Kerwin drove in a pair of runs with a double – the second of the inning off Austin Peay starter Alex Robles.
After surrendering the two runs, Robles churned through the next six innings without surrendering a run, scattering five hits and two walks.
Hamilton sparked the Govs come back with a solo home run in the second then a fourth-inning single that sparked a four-run rally that gave Austin Peay the lead for good. He would added a leadoff home run in the sixth to help pad the APSU lead.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
Robles' eighth win this season was his 20th career victory. He is the seventh Govs pitcher to reach the 20-career win plateau.
Hamilton's two home run outing was his second career multi-homer effort. He had a two-home run day at UT Martin last season and now has five home runs in 15 at-bats against the Skyhawks.
Shortstop Clayton Smithson hit a fourth-inning double – his fourth in his last five games played and team-best 16th this season.
Both Southeast Missouri and Jacksonville State, the two teams ahead of Austin Peay in the OVC standings entering the weekend, suffered losses Friday. The Govs moved to just three games behind league-leading Southeast Missouri and are only one-half game behind second-place Jacksonville State.
THE FULL RECAP
Austin Peay starter Alex Robles (8-2) got off to a rough start in a 28-pitch first inning, allowing three base runners to reach base with two outs. UT Martin designated hitter Austin Taylor started the rally with a double into the left center gap. Two batters later catcher Daniel Kerwin's double to right center drove in a pair of runs for an early 2-0 UTM lead.
After Austin Peay (27-16, 17-6 OVC) was held scoreless in the first, Hamilton posted the first run with a one-out home run to right field. He would then single in the fourth to start Austin Peay's lead-grabbing rally.
Third baseman Ridge Smith followed Hamilton in the fourth and tied the game with a single and shortstop Clayton Smithson broke the tie with a run-scoring double. The Govs would tack on two more runs, one on a wild pitch and another on catcher Alex Sala's sacrifice fly to build a 5-2 lead.
Hamilton then led off the sixth with his second home run of the day to give the Govs a 6-2 lead. Robles followed with a two-out solo home run and Austin Peay's lead reached five runs. Hamilton would then supply the Govs final run with a ground out in the seventh.
The offensive rally helped Robles pick up his season's eighth win as he followed the first inning with six scoreless frames. It wasn't the most efficient outing for the Govs starter as he allowed seven hits and walked three over seven innings. However, it was enough for him to become the seventh Austin Peay pitcher to reach the 20-career win plateau.
Hamilton finished the day 3-for-4 with three RBI while hitting his eighth and ninth home runs of the campaign. Four other Govs hitters each had a hit – all behind him in the order. The Govs 1-4 hitters were held hitless on the night.
UT Martin (15-29, 6-16 OVC) punched out 10 hits against the Govs pitching staff, but was held to three runs. Kerwin finished the day 3-for-4 with two RBI to pace the Skyhawk offense.
Skyhawks starter Patrick Barnard (4-3) went six innings but surrendered seven runs on six hits and four walks and was tagged for the loss.
Austin Peay and UT Martin resume their three-game OVC series with a 6 p.m., Saturday contest at Raymond C. Hand Park.
