APSU Governors Baseball falls to Samford Bulldogs late rally 6-4

Austin Peay Sports Information

Homewood, AL – Austin Peay State University’s baseball team continued to create offensive opportunities, but could not cash in enough of them in a 6-4 loss to Samford, Saturday, at Joe Lee Griffin Field.

For the second straight game, Austin Peay (2-2) scored the game’s first runs.

However, each time Austin Peay would get another runner to third base with less than two outs, leaving the runner stranded each time.

Austin Peay starting pitcher Zach Hall made the early run support stand up early. He allowed two hits and two walks through five scoreless innings, facing a runner in scoring position only twice.

Samford (3-2) would finally piece together a rally against Hall in the sixth inning, loading the bases with one out on a leadoff single, a hit batsman and a walk. Hall left the game after the walk and turned the ball over the reliever Kacy Kemmer. He faced designated hitter Damon Waller and surrendered a grand slam that gave Samford its first lead, 4-2.

Austin Peay would gather back one of those runs in the seventh when left fielder Cayce Bredlau hit a two-out RBI double. However, Samford responded with a pair of run in its half of the seventh, first baseman Alex Lee’s ground out providing what proved to be the game-winning RBI.

The Govs would threaten in the eighth inning, loading the bases with one out against Samford closer Andres Gracia, but could not capitalize as a fielder’s choice ended the threat. In the ninth, Austin Peay placed runners on first and second with one out and third baseman Logan Gray delivered with a double that pushed across a run.

However, with runners on second and third with one out, the Govs could not capitalize again against Gracia, who got a pop out and ground out to end the game.

Gray led Austin Peay with a 3-for-5 outing that included his RBI double. Bredlau, batting from the leadoff spot, went 2-for-5 with a RBI double. Right fielder Ridge Smith went 1-for-5 with a RBI and added an outfield assist to cut down a runner at home plate in the eighth.

Hall (0-1) suffered the loss after allowing three runs on three hits and three walks in 5.2 innings.

Waller led Samford with a 1-for-4, four RBI performance. Reliever Philip Flach picked up the win after allowing one run while striking out four batters in 2.2 innings. Gracia picked up his season’s second save, allowing one run on three hits in 1.2 innings.

Austin Peay and Samford conclude their three-game series with a 1:00pm, Sunday contest.

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