APSU Sports Information
Clarksville, TN – Behind eight solid innings from starting pitcher Alex Robles, APSU’s baseball team handed Southeast Missouri its first Ohio Valley Conference loss, 6-1, Friday night at Raymond C. Hand Park.
Austin Peay State University (17-11, 9-4 OVC) broke up a 1-1 pitcher’s duel in the sixth inning, aided by a dose of Southeast Missouri defensive miscues.
Third baseman Ridge Smith put the bunt down but the throw to first sailed past the defender and into the tarp, putting Massoni at third base and Smith at second.
First baseman Dre Gleason made SEMO pay for the miscue, batting in both runs with a single through the right side.
Southeast Missouri (21-9, 12-1 OVC) added to their woes with one out when right fielder Chase Hamilton singled to center field and the ball eluded the Redhawks defense, putting Govs runners at second and third.
After a hit batsman loaded the bases, catcher Alex Sala drove in a run with a sacrifice run and shortstop Clayton Smithson saw a run score when he reached on an error. When the dust settled, Austin Peay had grabbed a 6-1 lead.
That was more than enough for Robles (6-2) who went a season-high eight innings in the win. He allowed a lone unearned run in the first inning when he allowed three consecutive singles, one leading to an APSU error. Robles then retired 11 consecutive batters from the third to the sixth innings to hold the Redhawks at bay.
Southeast Missouri would get lone base runners in the sixth, seventh and eighth inning against Robles. However, they saw their best scoring chance pass them by in the seventh when Robles worked around a leadoff hit batsman, stranding the runner at third base.
Robles struck out seven batters en route to his season’s sixth win. He would allow four hits and walk two batters while facing 31 in eight innings. Reliever Jared Carkuff would allow a walk and hit a batter with one out in the ninth, but did not surrender a run.
Redhawks starter Joey Lucchesi (6-2) was the hard-luck loser after allowing six runs (two earned) on eight hits over six innings. He would strike out six batters and walk none in his outing.
Governors first baseman Dre Gleason and Hamilton each had three hits to pace the Govs 11-hit attack. Robles and Massoni also had two hits each.
Southeast Missouri first baseman Chris Caffrey went 1-for-4 with a RBI.
Austin Peay and Southeast Missouri continue their three-game series with a 1:00pm, Saturday contest. Austin Peay left-hander Michael Costanzo (4-2, 5.70 ERA) will square off against Southeast Missouri right-hander Clay Chandler (4-0, 1.61 ERA).
