RICHMOND, Ky. – Austin Peay State University's baseball team began its weekend series with a 5-2 win against Eastern Kentucky, as senior Ryker Walton threw a season-high five innings and struck out six batters, Thursday, at Turkey Hughes Field in Richmond, Kentucky.

How it Happened

The Governors put up a crooked number in the top of the third to get in the run column first, as graduate Trevor Conley led off the inning with a bunt single to the right side of the infield. He was moved over to second on a sacrifice bunt before scoring on a base hit up the middle from senior Zion Taylor. Then, after Taylor was caught stealing second, redshirt junior Ray Velazquez hit his ninth home run of the season to put the Govs up by two.

An inning would pass before two more runs came in to score, this time coming from the Colonels in the bottom of the fourth. The cleanup hitter, Khaleel Pratt, homered to right field for EKU's first run of the game. Jackson Cauthron followed with a triple to center field before scoring on a groundout to Velazquez at third.

The Governors would go on to score three unanswered runs and win the game, as it started with a sacrifice fly from Velazquez and an RBI triple from junior Ty Wisdom in the top of the fifth, and a solo homer from redshirt sophomore Cole Johnson in the sixth.

Austin Peay's starting pitcher, senior Ryker Walton, tossed five innings and struck out six batters, which were both season highs, as he picked up his first win of the season to improve to 1-2. He allowed just four hits through his five innings of work before senior Brody Lanham earned his first save of the season, as he tossed four innings of shutout ball and allowed just one hit for the remainder of the game.

Up Next

The Governors will take on Eastern Kentucky in game two of the weekend series, starting at 6 p.m. (CT), Friday, at Turkey Hughes Field in Richmond, Kentucky.

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