Austin Peay State University Athletics

Career Recap: Austin Peay
As a junior in 2009 – Kole batted .333 with nine home runs and 42 RBI, finishing third on the team in batting average and second in both home runs and RBI… played in 49 of team’s 52 games, making 47 starts… was the Govs primary first baseman with occasionally forays into the outfield… finished OVC season batting .290 with two home runs and eight RBI… recorded 21 multi-hit affairs and 12 multi-RBI performances, tied for first on the team in the latter category with Greg Bachman… had two nine-game hit streaks during season … batted .516 with five home runs and 16 RBI during season’s first nine-game streak… had impressive series against Iowa, March 6-8, recording six hits, four home runs and nine RBI in three-game set… went 2-for-2 with two home runs, four RBI, and two walks in series opener, was 2-for-4 with double and home run in series’ second game and finished series with 3-for-5, three RBI outing that included a home run… started next weekend 3-for-4 with three-RBI in series opener against Milwaukee with a double and a home run… had a modest six-game hit streak between the longer streaks that included a 3-for-5 performance against Middle Tennessee, April 1, and a 5-for-16 outing in three-game series against SIU Edwardsville, April 3-5… batted .447 in season’s later nine-game hit streak with two or more hits in seven of nine games, including a streak of six games with at least two hits… went 4-for-10 with two RBI in Southeast Missouri series, April 25-26, and 5-for-8 in doubleheader against Tennessee Martin, May 2, before being held hitless in series finale… also made three relief appearances for Govs, surrendering three unearned runs in 3.1 innings.

As a sophomore in 2008 – Kole was a second-team All-OVC selection at first base… played in 55 of the Govs 56 contests, starting 51 games at first base, four as team’s designated hitter and one start on the mound… batted .300 during the campaign with 44 RBI and six home runs while recording team-best 34 walks… led Govs in OVC play with .348 batting average and had 22 RBI and four home runs… got off to a slow start batting just .207 through season’s first nine games… broke out with 3-for-3 effort at Lipscomb, March 11, which included two doubles and two walks… that began a stretch where he had a hit in 19 of next 22 contests, including a nine-game hit streak, in which he batted .413 with 21 RBI and posted a .495 on-base percentage…  was 2-for-4 with three RBI at Western Kentucky, March 26, with a double and a triple… followed that with 2-for-3, four RBI outing against Jacksonville State, March 30, with two doubles… his career-best nine-game hit streak was stopped at Mississippi State, April 1, and he batted .467 (14-30) during streak with 12 RBI, a .541 on-base percentage and .833 slugging percentage… had back-to-back three-hit outings, going 3-for-5 at Southeast Missouri, April 27, and 3-for-4 against Tennessee Martin, May 3… was a triple shy of hitting for the cycle in that May 3 contest… had four consecutive two RBI outings, May 4-10… made 19 appearances on the mound, starting once and making 18 relief appearances… was 1-6 on the mound with 8.40 ERA… fared better in OVC play with 3.68 ERA but was left with 0-3 mark…  season on the mound started well with 1-0 record and two saves in first eight relief appearances… was tagged for the loss in relief against Jacksonville State, March 29, and would not recover recording six consecutive losses over final 13 appearances… finished campaign with four holds and two saves in three opportunities.

As a freshman in 2007 – Kole made 20 appearances in the field and another 14 appearances on the mound… at the plate he batted .129 with two doubles in three RBI… on the mound, he was 2-0 with a 1.46 ERA in 12.1 innings, all in relief… opened season with a double and RBI against both Central Arkansas and Cincinnati… posted season’s third hit against Ball State, March 3… first appearance on the mound came next day against Ball State as he allowed a hit and a walk while striking out one in 2.2 innings of relief… season’s first win came at Indiana State, March 14, as he held the Sycamores scoreless in the final inning as the Govs posted a come-from-behind win… season’s second win came against No. 13 Mississippi State as he recorded the final out in the top of the 11th and Jake Lane ended the game in the bottom of the inning… recorded season’s only save the next day against Mississippi State as he threw two innings of scoreless relief… career on the mound got off to an auspicious start as he did not allow a run in first eight inning of work over first eight starts… made two appearances in Govs NCAA Nashville Regional appearance… shut the door on Memphis’ eighth-inning rally by inducing a pop-out from his lone batter faced… was first reliever to the mound in Govs elimination-game loss to Vanderbilt, allowing one run in one inning pitched.

Career Recap: Ravenwood HS
Under head coach Lee Vaughn, on the mound, amassed a 10-1 record with a 1.48 ERA… batted .389 with 17 doubles, 45 RBI and a .687 slugging percentage in his senior season… was named to the TBCA First-Team All-State twice, 2005 and 2006… was twice named to the Tennessean All Mid-State team and the All-Williamson County team… named Ravenwood’s Most Valuable Player and Offensive Player of the Year three times.

Personal
Matthew Clayton Kole is the son of Jerry and Diane Kole… born Nov. 2, 1987… has two sisters, Jessica (26) and Julie (21)… majoring in corporate communication with a minor in general business.