BOX SCORE I PLAY-BY-PLAY

CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – The Eastern Kentucky University baseball team fell to Austin Peay, 8-6, on Saturday afternoon in the deciding game of this weekend’s series at Raymond C. Hand Park. With the series loss, EKU falls to 10-22 (3-6 OVC), while the series win improves APSU to 15-15 (5-3 OVC).

After APSU rallied for two runs in the bottom of the seventh to take an 8-5 lead into the ninth, EKU started a potential rally as junior Richie Rodriguez led off the inning with a double into right center and then scored on a double by junior #A.J. Jamison to cut the lead to two with a man in scoring position and no outs. Junior Jacob Daniel and freshman Bryan Soloman# went down on strikes consecutively, though, and senior Ryan Faidley flew out to right to end the rally and end the exciting, back-and-forth Sunday affair.

Senior right-hander Stephen Hefler (3-4) got the loss for EKU, going just 3.1 innings and allowing five earned runs on five hits while striking out three batters. Left-hander Zach Toney (3-2) earned the win for APSU, pitching six full and surrendering five runs on eight hits while striking out seven.

Rodriguez batted 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored, and finished the weekend batting .750 (9-for-12) in the series. Jamison, junior #Dustin Dunlop and freshman Sean Hagen# all collected two hits in the loss for EKU.

Reed Harper batted 2-for-3 with two RBI and two runs scored to lead the Govs offensively.

After a solo home run by Greg Bachman in the bottom of the first put the Govs on the board, EKU assembled a two-run, two-out rally in the top of the second to take the lead. With junior Michael Garcia on first with two outs, Dunlop drew a walk and then sophomore Matt Phipps worked a full count before blasting a two-run double down the left field line that made it 2-1.

After APSU plated three in the bottom of the second to retake the lead, EKU manufactured a pair in the top of the fourth to tie it. Hagen doubled with one out in the inning and then scored when Dunlop reached on a two-base error. After Dunlop went to third on a balk, Rodriguez scored him with a fielder’s choice, ending his streak of eight straight hits.

The Govs responded with two runs of their own in the bottom of that inning, though, as Jordan Hankins and Cody Hudson both connected on RBI singles. The damage could have been worse, but senior right-hander Chris Hord got Bachman swinging to end the inning with the bases loaded.

After the Colonels pulled to within one of the Govs on an RBI base hit by Hagen in the top of the fifth, APSU used a crucial error by Dunlop to open the game up in the bottom of the seventh. With one out and men on the corners in that inning, sophomore right-hander Anthony Bazzani replaced Hord and got the first batter he faced, Tyler Childress, to ground a soft double play ball to Dunlop at second base. The ball, however, went right under Dunlop’s glove, allowing Bachman to score. Harper then singled home John Hogan to make it 8-5.

EKU returns to action this week when the Colonels travel to Ohio to play the Bobcats on Tuesday at 6:00 p.m. EST.