CLARKSVILLE – Right fielder Parker Phillips had three hits, pacing Austin Peay State University's baseball team to a 10-3 nonconference victory against Middle Tennessee, Tuesday night on Joe Maynard Field at Raymond C. Hand Park.
MOMENT THAT MATTERED
After seeing a 3-1 lead erased by Middle Tennessee's two-run second, the Governors went right back to work in their half of the second. With third baseman Gino Avros opening the inning by being hit by a pitch followed by a single from Garrett Kueber. Right fielder Parker Phillips followed with a tie-breaking double and center fielder Garrett Spain chipped in a RBI single to give the Govs their two-run lead back and they would not be challenged again.
WATER COOLER CHATTER
HOME SWEET HOME. Tuesday's win extended the Govs home win streak to seven games. It is the Govs longest home win streak since the 2013 season when they ended the year with 12 consecutive home wins.
PHILLIPS WARMING UP. Fresh off breaking the APSU career home run mark as past of a three-hit outing at Southeast Missouri, Sunday, right fielder Parker Phillips pieced together another three-hit effort against the Blue Raiders. It is his fourth three-hit performance of 2019 and pushed his average to .300 for the season.
THE REST OF THE STORY
Austin Peay (12-10) opened with three-run salvos in both the first and second innings. The Govs first-inning scoring occurred without a base hit with three Middle Tennessee errors helping the cause. The second inning got off to a hot start with four consecutive base hits, Phillips providing a run-scoring double followed by center fielder Garrett Spain's RBI single. Malcolm Tipler's ground out supplied the final run as the Govs broke out to a 6-3 lead.
The early run support helped Austin Peay starter Tyler Thompson make it through four innings after a rough start. The Blue Raiders got back-to-back base hits to start the game, catcher Aaron Antonini driving in a run with a double. But Thompson worked out of the trouble without allowing another run.
Middle Tennessee (8-16) responded the Govs three-run first by rallying for two runs in its half of the second. MTSU opened the frame with four consecutive hits, Antonini driving in a run with a bases-loaded walk and designated hitter Drew Huff tied the game with a sacrifice fly.
The Governors battled back with their second three-run frame to take a 6-3 lead. Austin Peay tacked on another three runs in the sixth thanks to first baseman John McDonald's three-run double to salt the game away.
Thompson went four innings, limiting Middle Tennessee to three runs but did not qualify for the win. Reliever Greg Leban (2-0) picked up the win after striking out four of the nine batters he faced in two scoreless frames.
Phillips' 3-for-4 outing was the Govs lone multihit performance in a nine-hit night. Spain had two RBI in a 1-for-4 outing while McDonald had three RBI in his own 1-for-4 game.
Blue Raiders starter David Zoz (1-1) allowed six runs over one-plus inning of work. Antonini went 2-for-4 with two RBI to lead MTSU while JT Mabry went 3-for-5.
Austin Peay continues its five-game homestand when it hosts Murray State in a 6 p.m., Wednesday nonconference contest.
