CLARKSVILLE – Austin Peay State University's baseball team won both ends of its Ohio Valley Conference against Southeast Missouri in walk-off fashion, Friday, at Raymond C. Hand Park. The Governors won the opener 7-6 on second baseman Garrett Kueber's two-run double before a 7-6 victory in the nightcap was clinched on a balk.

Austin Peay (16-11, 7-4 OVC) trailed most of the day's first game and faced a 5-4 deficit entering the ninth inning. Center fielder Imani Willis singled with one out and third baseman Malcolm Tipler singled with two outs to bring up Kueber. The Govs shortstop took the second pitch he saw and drove it into the right center gap to drive in both runners for the win.

In the nightcap, Southeast Missouri (10-17, 7-4 OVC) was the team that had to rally from a deficit, trailing 6-1 after seven innings.  The Redhawks used a pair of Governors miscues to score three runs in the eighth and two more in the ninth to force Austin Peay to take its final turn at-bat.

The Governors got back-to-back singles from pinch hitter Mike Newberg and Aaron Campbell to put the pressure on and a ground out moved the potential winning run to third base. On a 2-1 pitch to Govs catcher David Martinez, the Redhawks reliever was called for a balk, bringing the winning run home.

Newberg (3-0) notched the win in the opener after tossing three innings and allowing one unearned run. Reliever Harley Gollert (2-1) was credited with the win in the nightcap after allowing two unearned runs in his 1.2 innings of work.

First baseman Parker Phillips went 4-for-9 with four RBI in the doubleheader, hitting a home run in the first game before notching two doubles in the second game. Second baseman Garrett Giovannelli extended his hit streak to 13 games with a 3-for-9 outing on the day.

Redhawks designated hitter Justin Dirden went 5-for-7 with three walks in the doubleheader, including a 3-for-3, two-walk outing in the night cap.

GAME 1: Kueber's lone hit provides walk-off victory

The day's first game was a back-and-forth battle between the Govs and Redhawks with neither team enjoying more than a one-run lead throughout the game. Southeast Missouri broke a 4-4 tie in the ninth inning after they took advantage of an Austin Peay defensive miscue to manufacture a run on reserve catcher Cole Bornhop's sacrifice fly.

Austin Peay would begin its rally when center fielder Imani Willis singled with one out. Two batters later third baseman Malcolm Tipler singled with two out, pushing Willis to third base. The Govs would not need to worry about tying the game as shortstop Garrett Kueber launched a double into the right field gap and the speedy Tipler scored all the way from first to win the game.

The walk-off double was Kueber's lone hit of the day in a 1-for-4 outing. First baseman Parker Phillips hit a home run for the third consecutive game in his 2-for-4 outing.

Austin Peay starter Michael Costanzo was left with no decision after scattering 12 hits over his six-inning outing, allowing four runs while striking out seven batters. Reliever Brett Newberg tossed the final three innings and allowed one unearned run on four hits to pick up the win.

Second baseman Trevor Ezell and first baseman Tristen Gagan each had three hits in the Redhawks 15-hit offensive outing. Reliever Carlos Vega (3-3) suffered the loss after allowing both runs in the ninth inning.

GAME 2: Pucheu strikes out career-high 10 in Govs balk-off win

Austin Peay Game 2 starter Jacques Pucheu was sterling with career-highs in innings pitched (7.1) and strikeouts (10), becoming the first Govs starter with a double-digit strike outs total this season. He opened with six scoreless innings before surrendering a pinch-hit leadoff home run in the seventh, but responded by striking out the side.

Austin Peay provided plenty of support for their starter, opening with two runs in the first inning courtesy a Phillips' double and an Andrew Flaherty ground out. The Govs would tack on single runs in both the third and sixth innings, extending their lead to 4-0.

After Pucheu surrendered his first run, the Govs rallied immediately with two runs in its half of the seventh thanks to Flaherty's two-run single. However, Austin Peay would leave two runners on base as the inning ended with it holding a 6-1 lead.

Pucheu returned to start the eighth, but saw an Austin Peay error extend the inning and he would allow two runs on designated hitter Justin Dirden's single, which also ended his night. The Govs bullpen would surrender a third run before Southeast Missouri ran into an out at home and then lined out to end the threat with APSU holding a 6-4 lead. .

The Redhawks took advantage of a second Governors error to start its ninth-inning rally, following it with four consecutive batters reaching base safely. First baseman Tristen Gagan drove in a run with a single and center fielder Danny Wright tied the game with his bases-loaded walk. But APSU reliever Harley Gollert struck out the next batter to maintain the 6-6 tie.

Austin Peay began its winning rally with back-to-back singles from pinch hitter Brett Newberg and right fielder Aaron Campbell. A ground moved the Govs runners to second and third with two outs. With Govs catcher David Martinez at the plate, a balk was called on a 2-1 pitch, allowing the winning run to score.

Pucheu was left with no decision after allowing four runs (three earned) on seven hits in 7.1 innings. Reliever Harley Golert (2-1) picked up the win after allowing two unearned runs in 1.2 innings.

Phillips had two RBI in his 2-for-5 outing, with doubles in his first two plate appearances. Flaherty had three RBI in his 1-for-4 outing.

Southeast Missouri reliever Matt Cook (0-1) was tagged for the loss after allowing one run on two hits in his two-thirds of an inning pitched.

Dirden reached base in all five plate appearances as part of his 3-for-3, two RBI night that aslso saw him walk twice.

GOVS, NOTABLY

GIOVANNELLI'S STREAKS HIT 33 and 13. Second baseman Garrett Giovannelli need a double in his final plate appearance to extend his reached safely streak to 33 games – 26 games this season and seven last season. It is the longest reached safely streak by an Austin Peay hitter since 2006. He also extended his hit streak to 13 games with three this in the doubleheader.

KUEBER KEEPS REACHING. Shortstop Garrett Kueber also continued his own impressive reached base safely streak, which now stands at 26 games. His walk-off single extended the streak to 25 games before going 2-for-4 in the night cap. .

BACK TO WEEKEND WINNING WAYS. A week after suffering its first weekend series loss at Tennessee Tech, the Govs responded by clinching a series win with Friday's doubleheader sweep. It is the sixth time in seven weeks Austin Peay has won a weekend series, improving to 15-5 in games played Friday-Sunday.

WALK OFF WINS NO. 2 & 3. Friday's walk off victories were the second and third for the Governors this season. Austin Peay downed Toledo in a 10th-inning walk off, Feb. 25, with Imani Willis supplying the walk-off single.

NEXT UP                                                

Austin Peay and Southeast Missouri conclude their three-game series with a 1 p.m., Saturday contest at Raymond C. Hand Park.