FLORENCE, Ala. – Making its first trip to North Alabama since 1991, Austin Peay State University's baseball team saw its four-game win streak end in a 7-5 loss, Wednesday, at Mike Lane Field.
Austin Peay (6-3) got on the board first with right fielder Harrison Brown, the hero in Tuesday's win with a walk-off single, opened the scoring with a one-out solo home run in the first inning.
North Alabama (2-4) used extra-base hits in the third and fourth innings to take the lead. Center fielder Austin Thrasher delivered three runs with his bases-clearing, two-out double in the third inning, giving the hosts a 4-1 lead.
One inning later, Lions second baseman Drew Hudson lined a ball to center field where it eluded the Govs defense and rolled to the wall. Hudson rounded the bases for the two-run inside-the-park home run and a 6-2 lead.
Austin Peay threatened in the ninth inning, bringing the tying run to the plate. After Jack Alexander singled and Gino Avros doubled, second baseman Jonah Beamon doubled into the right-field corner with two out, halving the deficit, 7-5. But Lions closer Austin Emener got a fly out to end the threat and the game.
Austin Loeb (0-1) suffered the loss after allowing four runs on three hits and five walks over the opening three innings.
Seven Govs posted a base hit each. Beamon's ninth-inning double made him the lone player with a multi-RBI outing with third baseman Michael Robinson and designated hitter Matt Joslin joining Harrison Brown with an RBI.
Will Morris (1-0) won in his first start of 2022, allowing two runs on three hits while striking out four batters over five innings. Center fielder Austin Thrasher went 3-for-3 with three RBI to lead the Lions offense.
Austin Peay returns home – where it has won four straight – to face Kent State in a three-game series. The weekend set begins with a 3 p.m., Friday contest on Joe Maynard Field at Raymond C. Hand Park.
Tickets for the weekend series against the Golden Flashes – and all APSU home games – are available online at LetsGoPeay.com/BuyTickets. Follow the Govs all season long at LetsGoPeay.com and on social media at GovsBSB on Twitter.