LEADING OFF

Austin Peay begins its 30-game Ohio Valley Conference schedule when it hosts Murray State in a three-game series, beginning Friday-Sunday. The First Financial Battle of the Border event opens with a 6 p.m., Friday contest followed by 1 p.m. outings both Saturday and Sunday.

The Governors head into the weekend series fresh off an impressive outing by its pitching staff against Southern Illinois, Wednesday. Austin Peay held the Salukis to one run on three hits with six pitchers combining to toss the victory. Offensively, the Govs posted double-digit hits for the fourth time this season against the Salukis.

Murray State opened its five-game road trip with a narrow defeat at Kentucky, Wednesday. The Racers tied the game in the top of the ninth only to see the Wildcats hit a walkoff home run to win the game. Murray State boasts one of the OVC's top pitching staffs, ranking second in the league with a 3.43 ERA  and all three of its weekend starters owning a sub-2.00 ERA.

FIRST HACKS

• Sophomore third baseman Gino Avros has reached safely in all 12 games this season and owns a 26-game reached safely streak that began last season. He also has a base hit in his last 9 games, batting .314 (11-for-35).
• Junior transfer TJ Foreman batted a team-best .444 with 2 starts as the Govs designated hitter at Jacksonville. He extended his hit streak to 4 games against Southern Illinois, starting in left field, and is batting .357 (5-for-14) during the streak.
• Junior transfer Ty DeLancey has started the last 3 games at first base. He led the Govs with 5 hits (.417 BA) while posting his 3rd and 4th 2-hit games of 2020 at Jacksonville. Against SIU, he reached safely 3 times (2 BB, HBP).
• Sophomore center fielder Garrett Spain was a single shy of the cycle (3-for-5) in the Govs Game 2 win at Jacksonville. 4 of his last 5 base hits have gone for extra bases, including two triples.
• Junior transfer catcher Alex Hay is batting .333 (7-for-21) over his last 6 games with 2 doubles and 4 RBI. The stretch includes his first 3-hit game as a Governor against Evansville, Feb. 23. Behind the plate, he has caught four runners attempting to steal this season.
• Junior shortstop Bobby Head saw a 6-game hit streak snapped in the Jacksonville series finale, March 1. However, he is batting .346 (9-for-26) with a .469 on-base percentage in his last 9 games.
• Freshman right fielder Skyler Luna continues to lead the Govs with 11 RBI this season. He was held to 2-for-13 hitting in four games last week.
• Junior Griffin Rivers started all three games in left field at Jacksonville. He had a RBI single in Game 1 and walked 3 times in Game 2 of the set.
• Senior second baseman/outfielder Malcolm Tipler drove in two runs in Game 2 of the Jacksonville series, his first multi-RBI effort this season. He followed that with a double, RBI fielder's choice and a stolen base against Southern Illinois, Wednesday.
• Freshman Reid Brown was the Govs starting first baseman in the Jacksonville series opener but was held without a hit against the Dolphins.
• Senior Max Remy started back-to-back games at second base, Feb. 23 and 25. He went 3-for-4 with 2 RBI in his first start against Evansville, Sunday, and reached base in 1 of his 3 plate appearances at WKU, Tuesday.
• Freshman catcher Tyler Cotto has made one start in each of the first three weekends. He went 1-for-2 with a walk in the Jacksonville series finale and caught a runner stealing.

LITTLE LEAGUE NIGHT

The Governors will recognize the St. Bethlehem Little League teams prior to Friday's contest. Members of the league's teams, in uniform, will receive free admission to the game (adults must pay for admission).