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APSU Governors Baseball drops two to Iowa Hawkeyes at Raymond C. Hand Park

APSU Sports Information

Austin Peay State University Governors Sports - APSUClarksville, TN – Austin Peay State University’s baseball team endured an error-filled day on the diamond and dropped its season-opening doubleheader, 11-5 and 15-13, to Iowa, Saturday at Raymond C. Hand Park.

Austin Peay Men's Baseball drops double-header to Iowa at Raymond C. Hand Park. (Michael Rios-Clarksville Sports Network)
Austin Peay Men’s Baseball drops double-header to Iowa at Raymond C. Hand Park. (Michael Rios-Clarksville Sports Network)

Austin Peay (0-2) had six freshmen in its starting lineup for both contests and the inexperience showed, particularly on defense.

The Govs were charged with eight errors in the opening contest before a five-error affair in the nightcap.

In both contests, Iowa (2-0) took advantage of the errors in spectacular fashion.

In the opener, the Hawkeyes turned two APSU errors into a seven-run inning that broke open the contest.  In the second game, the Govs committed three errors as part of a 10-run second inning, which included nine unearned runs.

P.J. TorresStill, Austin Peay showed signs of its offensive potential.

Trailing 10-2 in the nightcap, the Govs charged back with 10 unanswered runs. Senior designated hitter P.J. Torres had a three-run home run, which followed Iowa’s first error, in the third inning.

He would add RBIs courtesy a fourth-inning walk and a fifth-inning triple. It was freshman catcher Ridge Smith’s two-run double in the fifth that gave APSU its first lead, 11-10, which was followed by Torres’ triple that gave APSU a 12-10 lead.

Ridge SmithHowever, Iowa would score the game’s next five runs to regain a 15-12 edge. A pair of eighth-inning errors led to two key insurance runs for the Hawkeyes.

Those runs proved crucial as the Govs would load the bases in the ninth and scored a run on a wild pitch. However, with the tying run at second, they could not get the hit they needed.

Smith went 5-for-8 in the doubleheader with three doubles and five RBI, including a 3-for-5, three RBI outing in the nightcap.

Torres finished the day 5-for-9 with six RBI, including a 4-for-5, six RBI nightcap effort. Freshman outfielder Chase Hamilton went 2-for-3 with two RBI in the opener as part of a three-hit day.

Senior starter Zach Hall (0-1) suffered the loss in the opener after allowing seven runs (five earned) on six hits over 3.1 innings.

Game 2 starter Alex Robles went just 2.0 innings and allowed 10 runs (one earned). Reliever Caleb DeLee was tagged for the loss in the nightcap after allowing two runs.

Iowa’s Jake Yacinich led all hitters with a 7-for-9 performance, going 2-for-3 in the opener before posting a 3-for-4 outing in the nightcap.

Blake Hickman had six RBI, including a grand slam in the opener. Taylor Zeutenhorst added three RBI courtesy a three-run home run in the day’s second game.

Austin Peay and Iowa conclude their three-game series with a 1:00pm, Sunday contest at Raymond C. Hand Park.

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