Box Score

RICHMOND, Ky. – Eastern Kentucky's pitching struggled against Austin Peay, losing 17-3 Friday at Turkey Hughes Field in the first game of the weekend series.
 
The two teams will finish off their series with a doubleheader on Saturday to avoid the rain that is in the forecast for Sunday.  The twin-bill will begin at 1 p.m.
 
Austin Peay had five hitters with more than two hits and four with more than two RBIs.  The Governors were 12-for-18 with runners in scoring position.
 
APSU (21-14, 12-7 OVC) started the game off scoring three runs in the top of the first off four hits.  Back-to-back RBI doubles from Logan Gray and Josh Wilson scored two of the three runs.
 
EKU (12-21, 5-10 OVC) answered with one run on an RBI double from Ben Fisher in the bottom half of the first inning that scored Mandy Alvarez.
 
Four runs in the top half of the third broke the Austin Peay lead open for good.  A Dre Gleason two-run double and two-run single by Ridge Smith pushed the Governors' lead to 8-1.
 
Eastern starter Logan Hershenow (2-6) lasted 4 1/3 innings, giving up 12 earned runs on 14 hits. Sophomore Caleb Johnson was a bright spot for EKU - giving up just one hit and no runs in 3 1/3 innings of relief.
 
Austin Peay scored four more in fifth on a three-run home run by Cayce Bredlau.  Those four Governor runs pushed their lead to 12-1. 
 
Smith went 5-for-5 during the game and scored two runs.  The Governors totaled 19 hits.
 
The Colonels loaded the bases in the bottom of the fifth inning, and scored two runs off of an error and single by Alvarez. Three runners were left on base, however, ending the Colonels' best offensive inning of the game.
 
Alvarez and Kenny Hostrander both had two hits during the game, combining for four of the five EKU hits.