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HomeSportsGovs close out five-game homestand with Western Kentucky and Belmont

Govs close out five-game homestand with Western Kentucky and Belmont

APSU Men’s Baseball

Austin Peay State University GovernorsClarksville, TN – Austin Peay closes out its current five-game homestand when it hosts midweek affairs with Western Kentucky and Belmont. The Govs and Hilltoppers will meet in a 6:00pm, Tuesday contest before Austin Peay hosts the Bruins in a 6:00pm, Wednesday affair – both games at Raymond C. Hand Park.

Austin Peay (15-15) improved to 5-3 in April with its 2-1 Ohio Valley Conference series victory against Eastern Kentucky, last weekend. It was the Govs first back-to-back conference series victories since the 2008 season.

APSU Men's Baseball, Clarksville TN.
APSU Men's Baseball, Clarksville TN.

The Govs offense has warmed up with the weather, posting a .346 batting average and averaging 7.4 runs per game during the month. Junior third baseman Greg Bachman is leading the effort with a .483 batting average (14-of-29) – one of four Govs hitters batting above .400 for the month.

Junior center fielder Michael Blanchard enters Week 9 as the Govs leading hitter with a .352 batting average this season and an OVC-best 18 stolen bases. He took the lead from freshman Jordan Hankins who held the lead for the season’s first eight weeks and enters Week 9, second on the team with a .350 batting average.

Andy CoxOn the mound, the Govs turn to junior right-hander Andy Cox (0-1) for Tuesday’s start. It will be his season’s second start, coming six days after his first start as  a Governor – a four-inning outing at Middle Tennessee. Austin Peay will give freshman left-hander Rolando Gautier (0-0) – an outfield starter for most of the season – his first collegiate start, Wednesday, against Belmont.

Western Kentucky (20-12) visits Clarksville for its only game between a recently completed four-game homestand and an upcoming five-game homestand. The Hilltoppers won the first three games of their recent homestand, beginning with a victory against then No. 25 Louisville one week ago and ending with a 2-1 Sun Belt Conference victory against Louisiana-Lafayette.

Rolando GautierJunior infielder Logan Robbins leads WKU with a .375 batting average – one of four WKU players batting better than .300 this season. Senior catcher Matt Rice leads the Hilltoppers with seven home runs and 36 RBI. Sophomore right-hander Taylor Haydel will get the nod on the mound for Tuesday’s contest. He picked up the victory in the first meeting between the two teams, a 5-2 victory, March 22nd in Bowling Green, KY.

Belmont (16-17) is 3-4 in April, opening the month by losing a three-game Atlantic Sun Conference series to Jacksonville followed by an April 6th loss at UT Martin. The Bruins bounced back last weekend winning a three-game series at USC Upstate.

Junior outfielder Dylan Craig leads the Bruins with a .360 batting average. Senior outfielder Nate Woods and sophomore outfielder Judah Akers each have five home runs to lead Belmont, but Woods stands alone with a team-best 29 RBI.

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