Written by Cody Bush
APSU Sports Information
Murray, KY – Austin Peay State University’s baseball team rode an early offensive outburst to post a 6-4 victory against Murray State, Saturday, and complete a sweep of its three-game Ohio Valley Conference series at Reagan Field.
The Govs kept plugging away and posted four consecutive one-out singles. Shortstop Reed Harper had the last of those four hits and it resulted in a pair of runs as APSU built a 3-1 lead. Austin Peay tacked on another run in the fourth when right fielder Rolando Gautier doubled to left center – the game’s only extra-base hit – and scored on center fielder Dylan Riner’s single.
Murray State (12-15, 6-6 OVC) scratched back one of those runs in the fifth. The Thoroughbreds saw the first three batters of the inning reach base safely. Designated hitter Brandon Eggenschwiler drove in a run with his fielder’s choice, cutting the deficit to one run.
Austin Peay got the eventual game-winning runs in the sixth inning. The Govs had three of its first four batters on base to start the inning. After a pitching change, second baseman Jordan Hankins rifled the first pitch he saw through the right side, driving in two runs.
Those two runs were truly insurance as the ‘Breds scratched out single runs in both the sixth and eighth innings, narrowing the APSU lead two runs, 6-4, but they would not get any closer.
Austin Peay starter Ryan Quick (3-1) picked up the victory in his first OVC start since last season. He held Murray State to two runs on four hits and five walks over five innings. Closer Tyler Rogers tossed a scoreless ninth inning to record his season’s 10 save.
Shortstop Reed Harper reached base in all five plate appearances, finishing 3-for-3 with two RBI while also walking once and being hit by a pitch. Second baseman Jordan Hankins went 3-for-5 with two RBI.
Murray State starter Andrew Bramley (0-2) suffered the loss after allowing four runs on nine hits over 3.2 innings. Right fielder Paul Ritzheimer went 3-for-4 with a RBI single in the eighth.
Austin Peay returns home for a 6:00pm, Tuesday contest against Lipscomb.
