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Austin Peay State University Baseball takes on Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles in Cookeville this weekend

Austin Peay Governors vs. Tennessee Tech

Friday-Sunday, April 4th-6th
Cookeville, TN | Averitt Express Baseball Complex

Austin Peay State University Governors - APSUClarksville, TN – Austin Peay’s baseball team (10-19, 3-6 OVC) begins a pivotal two weeks of Ohio Valley Conference action when it visits preseason favorite Tennessee Tech (23-6, 8-4 OVC) for a three-game set, scheduled to begin with a 6:00pm, Friday contest at Averitt Express Baseball Complex.

Austin Peay Freshman Alex Robles will take the mound to start the Govs OVC series at Tennessee Tech, Friday night.(Brittney Sparn/APSU Sports Information)
Austin Peay Freshman Alex Robles will take the mound to start the Govs OVC series at Tennessee Tech, Friday night.(Brittney Sparn/APSU Sports Information)

The Govs will bring their longest losing streak since 2009 into the weekend’s matchup, a six-game slide that began March 26th.

Meanwhile, the Golden Eagles have won their last three and six of their last seven. APSU stands seventh in the OVC race, 5½ games out of first place while TTU is in third place at 8-4, 2 games behind the lead pace.

Austin Peay Governors

Alex RoblesAustin Peay is in its busiest stretch of the 2014 campaign, playing 17 games in a 22-day stretch that will conclude with the Easter Holiday, April 20th. The Govs are 9-10 at Raymond C. Hand Park this season after being swept by Murray State in OVC play last weekend.

APSU is just 1-9 away from the friendly confines in 2014 and has four straight losses on the road.

Two-way man Alex Robles (3B/P) ranks sixth among all OVC hitters and leads all freshmen with a .370 average; he has a 2-2 record and 3.92 ERA on the mound. Robles also has a 9-game hit streak entering this weekend’s play after piecing together an 11-game hit streak earlier this season.

Ridge SmithUtility man Ridge Smith has reached base safely in 22 consecutive games dating back to February 25th and was moved into the leadoff spot for the first time during the Govs two midweek contests. Smith also ranks 12th among OVC hitters with 24 RBI this season.

Infielder Garrett Copeland is batting .583 (7-for-12) during his current 4-game hit streak. Tommy Hager had 3 hits at Western Kentucky, Tuesday, in his first start since Feb. 25 then made his first-ever start at first base, Wednesday, at Indiana State.

Outfielder Cayce Bredlau has a hit in 14 of his 17 games since returning as a regular starter, March 8th vs. Akron.

Austin Peay has 74 extra-base hits this season and 34.5 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 .253 (154-for-608) and drive in 95 of the team’s 145 RBI.

The Govs defense has battled inconsistency with 65 errors this season (.942 fielding percentage), but its four errorless outings have come in the last 12 games. 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

The Govs rotation for their fourth conference weekend will be in flux.

Caleb PowellRight-hander Alex Robles has been the Govs stalwart starter, going 6 innings and posting a quality start in each of his last five starts. He was tagged for his first conference loss despite holding Murray State to 3 runs in 6 innings last weekend. Robles is 1-1 with a 3.15 ERA in 3 OVC starts.

Right-hander Caleb Powell will move into the No. 2 role this weekend after serving as the Govs No. 3 the past two weekends. He suffered his first loss last week against Murray State, allowing eight runs (three earned) in 6 innings and has a 3.48 ERA in 2 OVC starts.

Austin Peay’s Game 3 starter will be announced following the series first two games. Left-hander Levi Primasing has been the Govs No. 2 the past two weekends and is 1-2 with a 6.14 ERA in three OVC starts.

Probable Starting Pitchers

Date/
Time
Austin Peay Starter
vs. Opponent’s Starter
FRI.
6:00pm
RHP Alex Robles (Fr., 2-2, 3.92 ERA)
RHP David Hess (Jr., 5-1, 1.77 ERA)
SAT.
2:00pm
RHP Caleb Powell (Fr., 0-1, 6.29 ERA)
RHP Chris Chism (Jr., 4-0, 3.00 ERA)
SUN.
1:00pm
TBA
RHP Austin Tolle (Jr., 3-0, 4.39 ERA)

Media Center

Radio: WVRY 105.1 FM
Play by Play: Van Stokes

ipTV: www.OVCDigitalNetwork.com

Online Audio: www.LetsGoPeay.com
Live Statistics: www.TTUSports.com
Twitter: @APSUBaseball

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