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HomeNewsAustin Peay State University Baseball at Jacksonville State Gamecocks this weekend

Austin Peay State University Baseball at Jacksonville State Gamecocks this weekend

Austin Peay Governors vs. Jacksonville State

Friday-Sunday, March 21st-23rd
Jacksonville, AL | Rudy Abbott Field

Austin Peay State University Governors Sports - APSUClarksville, TN – Austin Peay’s baseball team (8-11, 2-1 OVC) continues its five-game road trip when it travels to Jacksonville State (12-8, 4-2 OVC) for a three-game Ohio Valley Conference series, Friday-Sunday, at Rudy Abbott Field.

Austin Peay Men's Baseball plays Jacksonville State this weekend in OVC action. (Michael Rios-Clarksville Sports Network)
Austin Peay Men’s Baseball plays Jacksonville State this weekend in OVC action. (Michael Rios-Clarksville Sports Network)

The Govs continue the road trip while seeking their first road win this season after dropping an extra-inning affair, 8-7, at No. 14 Tennessee, Tuesday.

Jacksonville State returns home after posting a 2-2 record during its recent road trip. The Gamecocks concluded that excursion with a 7-3 victory at Troy, Tuesday.

Austin Peay Governors

Rolando GautierThe Govs have not won a game (0-5) away from Raymond C. Hand Park this season, losing 4 true road games and a “home” game played in Columbia, Tennessee against Akron.

Two-way man Alex Robles (3B/P) ranks fourth among all OVC hitters and leads all freshmen with a .414 average, including a current 11-game hit streak (.426, 20-for-47). Right fielder Rolando Gautier moved into the leadoff spot, February 25th, against Eastern Michigan and has a hit in 11 of his 12 games (held hitless vs. Lipscomb).

Kevin CoreyUtility man Ridge Smith enters the midweek outing with 18 RBI, 10th-most among OVC hitters this season. Outfielder Cayce Bredlau has broken out of his season-opening funk, piecing together a 7-game hit streak (8-for-20, .400).

Infielder Kevin Corey is batting .600 (9-for-15) during a stretch that has seen him start 4 of the Govs last 5 games.

Austin Peay has 60 extra-base hits this season and 37 percent of its hits have gone for extras, the highest such percentage among OVC teams. Eight freshmen have taken an at-bat this year and they have combined to hit .251 (102-for-405) and have 67 of the team’s 105 RBI.

The Govs defense has gotten off to a rough start with 50 errors this season (.935 fielding percentage), but posted its first errorless outing in the Eastern Illinois series finale, February 18th. Head coach Gary McClure is one of 28 active Division I coaches with 800 wins and he is APSU and the OVC’s all-time wins leader.

This season, Austin Peay was picked to finish 2nd in the OVC’s preseason poll behind Tennessee Tech. The Govs did not have a player selected to the preseason All-OVC squad; only senior catcher P.J. Torres returns after receiving All-OVC honors (2nd team) last season.

First Pitch

Alex RoblesFor the first time in 2014, the Govs will turn to a trio of freshmen to start its Week 6 series against Jacksonville State. Right-hander Alex Robles will make his second straight start as the Govs No. 1 after starting against Eastern Illinois last week. Robles did not earn a decision against the Panthers but held them to four runs in seven innings.

Left-hander Levi Primasing will move into the No. 2 spot this week after two weekends as the Govs No. 3. Primasing picked up his season’s second win against EIU last weekend, allowing two runs in seven innings and walking none.

Right-hander Caleb Powell moves into the weekend rotation this weekend and will make his second collegiate start, Sunday. Powell’s only other start in 2014 was a four-inning no-decision against Southern Illinois, February 18th, in which he allowed two runs in four innings.

Probable Starting Pitchers

Date Austin Peay Starter
vs. Opponent’s Starter
FRI.
6:00pm
RHP Alex Robles (Fr., 1-1, 4.45 ERA)
RHP Taylor Shields (Sr., 3-1, 3.81 ERA)
SAT.
1:00pm
LHP Levi Primasing (Fr., 2-0, 3.38 ERA)
RHP Zachary Fowler (Jr., 3-1, 1.93 ERA)
SUN.
1:00pm
RHP Caleb Powell (Fr., 0-0, 8.36 ERA)
TBA

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