CLARKSVILLE – Outfielder Aaron Campbell supplied a career-high three RBI off the bench, but an early big inning proved too much for Austin Peay State University's baseball team as it dropped game two of its series against Kentucky, 12-5, Saturday afternoon at Joe and Cathi Maynard Field at Raymond C. Hand Park.

MOMENT THAT MATTERED

After watching the ball fly out of the park off Kentucky bats for the series' first 12 innings, the Governors registered their first homer of 2019 to begin the fifth inning of Saturday's affair. Designated hitter Andrew Flaherty hit the first pitch he saw and wrapped it around the foul – or is that fair – pole in left. It was the junior's third career home run and first since Feb. 27, 2018 at Vanderbilt.

WATER COOLER NOTES

CAMPBELL'S BIG OUTING. Outfielder Aaron Campbell made the most of his first opportunity to play in 2019, gathering a base hit in each of his two plate appearances. His career-best three RBI came on an infield pinch-hit single in the sixth inning before driving in a pair of runs thanks to a laser shot to right-center field in the eighth.

THE HITS BY SPAIN MAINLY FALL. Outfielder Garrett Spain tacked on his second extra-base hit of his freshman campaign with a RBI double in the fourth inning before adding a single in the eighth for his first multi-hit game.

TIPLER TALLIES. Third baseman Malcolm Tipler also kept on his season-opening streak with two hits and two runs scored in Saturday's tilt. His three hits in 2019 have each gone for extra bases – following a triple on Friday with two doubles, Saturday.

GROUND BROKEN ON NEW CLUBHOUSE

Prior to Saturday's game, the Austin Peay athletics department recognized Joe and Cathi Maynard and Doug and Linda Downey with a ceremonial groundbreaking on the main concourse. The Maynard's and Downey's significant contributions to the baseball program have helped pave the way for the construction of a new baseball clubhouse which will begin following the conclusion of the 2019 season.

THE REST OF THE STORY

Kentucky (2-0) again broke through on the scoreboard first, striking for six runs in the third inning. The top four in the Wildcats order did the bulk of that damage, stringing together four straight RBI scoring hits capped by designated hitter T.J. Collett's two-run home run that just eked over the wall in right.

Austin Peay (0-2) would cut the deficit in half with runs in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings. Center fielder Garrett Spain doubled in the game's first run in the third. Designated hitter Andrew Flaherty added a leadoff home run in the fifth. Campbell then added a pinch-hit infield single to drive in a run in the sixth.

The Wildcats would answer the Govs midgame charge by scoring in each of their final four frames to secure the game. The Govs would break through one last time thanks to Campbell's base hit that filled the gap in right-center field, driving in a pair of runs.

Austin Peay starter Brett Newberg (0-1) suffered the loss despite sandwiching Kentucky's big third inning between four scoreless frames. He would allow six runs (five earned) on six hits in five innings of work.

Kentucky starter Jimmy Ramsey (1-0) notched the win in a five-inning outing that saw him surrender two runs on three hits while striking out eight.

Campbell went 2-for-2 with three RBI in his season's first outing. Spain and third baseman Malcolm Tipler, who each had two RBI in Friday's season opener, followed with two-hit outings each in Saturday's outing.

Left fielder Ryan Shinn went 3-for-4 to pace Kentucky with Collett ending the day with three RBI as part of a 2-for-5 outing.

Austin Peay and Kentucky conclude their season-opening three-game set at 1 p.m., Sunday. The Governors will send redshirt senior Josh Rye to the mound to meet Kentucky freshman Dillon Marsh.