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HomeSportsInstant Peay Play: Breaking down APSU Baseball's return to the post season

Instant Peay Play: Breaking down APSU Baseball’s return to the post season

Instant Peay Play - APSU SportsClarksville, TN – Austin Peay State University’s baseball team returns to the post season for the first time in three years this week, as it enters the Ohio Valley Conference Championship Tournament at Pringle Park in Jackson, TN, as the number-three seed.

The Govs (28-21, 17-9 OVC) were the number-two overall seed after completing their OVC schedule a week-and-a-half ago, but had to vacate four conference wins this past week due to playing an ineligible player which allowed Jacksonville State to past them in the conference standing this past weekend, sweeping Tennessee Martin in their three-game OVC series.

2016 OVC Baseball Championships

Joining the Govs will be Southeast Missouri, Jacksonville State, Morehead State, Tennessee Tech and Belmont, with Austin Peay opening play on Wednesday versus sixth-seeded Belmont (31-25, 17-13 OVC) at 5:00pm.

But with their return to the post season, how do the Govs stack-up against the rest of the field.

Not counting the vacated wins, Austin Peay went 7-8 versus the tournament’s field of teams; winning three series 2-1 (Southeast Missouri, Tennessee Tech, Belmont), while dropping series versus Jacksonville State (0-3) and Morehead State (1-2).

The opening-round game with Belmont will be an interesting matchup for the Govs, with the Bruins handing Austin Peay its only shutout loss of the season, a 15-0 final, which also came against the Govs number-one starter Alex Robles – who would by all accounts be the starter in the Govs tournament opener.

If the Govs get be Belmont, they will face Jacksonville State (32-22, 20-10 OVC) in the next round – the only team in the conference they haven’t beaten this year, losing by finals of 6-1, 8-5 and 25-12 during their three-game series.

But if there is a silver lining in having to meet the Gamecocks in Round two of the tournament it’s that despite JSU sweeping Tennessee Martin this past weekend, they had entered the weekend struggling having lost eight of the nine games they played in prior to the UTM matchup

Of course the matchup with Jacksonville State depends on the Govs beating Belmont on Wednesday.

But all the Governors matchups after the opening Belmont game depends on wins or losses by the Govs, with on secret by any team that the longer you can stay in the winner’s bracket the better you chances to win the tournament, with pitching – no matter how god or how deep – can be stretched or strained in a short tournament with the possibility of having to play as many as seven games in five days.

For Austin Peay fans that can’t get down to the tournament, all games in the tournament can be watched live on the OVC Digital Network. There is no charge to watch the event and the games are available on any computer, tablet or smart phone by live and on-demand. Tickets for the OVC Baseball Tournament are $10.00 per day or $28.00 for an all-session pass (with up to 11 games).

There is also an $8.00 a day rate (or $25.00 for an all-tournament pass) for students/faculty of OVC-member schools (with valid ID) or for groups. All seats at the 6,000-seat park are general admission for the OVC Championship.

Chris Austin
Chris Austinhttp://www.clarksvillesportsnetwork.com
Chris Austin is a graduate of Clarksville High School and Austin Peay State University. Chris is a former Head Softball Coach for APSU, and assistant basketball coach for CHS. Chris has worked at the Leaf-Chronicle, and WJZM News/Talk/Sports radio. Has also worked at the Sports Information Department at APSU, and has covered championship events for the Ohio Valley Conference and NCAA. Chris is an avid sports fan and can be found at most Austin Peay State University sports events.
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