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HomeSportsGovs final OVC prep takes them to Western Kentucky, Tuesday

Govs final OVC prep takes them to Western Kentucky, Tuesday

APSU Men’s Baseball

Austin Peay State University GovernorsBowling Green, KY – With Ohio Valley Conference play looming this weekend, Austin Peay’s baseball team has one last opportunity for some prep work when it travels to Western Kentucky for a 6:00pm, Tuesday contest at Nick Denes Field. The game was originally scheduled for Wednesday, but the forecast included a chance of rain so both teams agreed to move the game to Tuesday.

The Govs (9-9) are still seeking to end a recent slide that has covered the last eight games and seen them post a 2-6 record in that span. Austin Peay’s offense has been a particular concern, posting a .213 batting average and scoring just 3.0 runs per game in that span.

Redshirt freshman Alex Belew will take the mound in the Govs Tuesday contest at Western Kentucky. (Keith Dorris/Dorris Photography)
Redshirt freshman Alex Belew will take the mound in the Govs Tuesday contest at Western Kentucky. (Keith Dorris/Dorris Photography)

Only three Govs are averaging one hit per game over the last eight contests – sophomore shortstop Reed Harper and the freshman duo of outfielder Rolando Gautier and second baseman Jordan Hankins. Gautier has stretched his hit streak to 17 games and leads the team with a .355 batting average (11-of-31) during the last eight games. Hankins and Harper each have eight hits in the last eight games, batting in the second and third spots in the lineup, respectively.

Austin Peay will hand the ball again to freshman Alex Belew (1-2), who is scheduled to make his season’s fifth start. The redshirt freshman lost in a brief start against Tennessee, last Wednesday, allowing three runs over 2.2 innings.

Rolando GautierWestern Kentucky (13-6) brings a five-game win streak into Tuesday’s contest following a three-game sweep of Middle Tennessee in its Sun Belt opening weekend. The Hilltoppers offense leads the Sun Belt with a .334 batting average while ranking second in defense (.982 fielding percentage) and fifth in team ERA (4.13).

Outfielder Jared Andreoli leads the WKU offense with a .407 batting average while ranking second on the team with 22 RBI. Shortstop Logan Robbins is the reigning Sun Belt Conference “Player of the Week” after batting .563 last week with five RBI, including a 6-of-11 (.545) effort against Middle Tennessee. Eight Hilltopper regulars are batting .300 or better this season after 19 games.

WKU starter Taylor Haydel (1-1) will be making his season’s fifth start, but his first since a two-inning outing against Illinois, March 13th.           

Notes From The Weekend

Jeremy DobbsAustin Peay was 1-3 last week, losing a non-conference home game to SEC foe Tennessee to begin the week before losing two of three games in a series at Illinois State over the weekend. Junior starter Jeremy Dobbs picked up the win on Saturday against the Redbirds, striking out a career-high 11 in just 6.2 innings of work. Dobbs allowed five hits and two runs (one earned) in the victory; he is unbeaten this season. The 11 strikeouts were the most by an Austin Peay pitcher since February 2010.

Freshman outfielder Rolando Gautier extended his hitting streak to an OVC-best 17 games with a hit in each of the Govs four games last week. Freshman second baseman Jordan Hankins saw his streak of reaching base safely end at 17 games following Saturday’s second game at Illinois State.

Coming Up: Murray State

Austin Peay opens Ohio Valley Conference play with a three-game series at Murray State, Saturday-Sunday. A 1:00pm, Saturday doubleheader will start the series followed by a 1:00pm, Sunday contest. All three games will be broadcast on the Governors Radio Network and will be available online at www.LetsGoPeay.com.

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