APSU Sports Information
Clarksville, TN – Austin Peay State University’s baseball first baseman Dre Gleason and right fielder Chase Hamilton hit back-to-back home runs to lift the Governors to a 6-2 Ohio Valley Conference victory against Belmont, Saturday afternoon at Raymond C. Hand Park.
After two scoreless frames to start the contest, Belmont (14-15, 9-5 OVC) broke through in the third when catcher Clay Payne led off the inning with a home run to left.
Austin Peay (14-16, 6-8 OVC) rallied to tie the game in its half of the third. Center fielder Imani Willis started the rally with a two-out single, then stole second base and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Second baseman Garrett Giovannelli then delivered a single to tie the game, 1-1.
The tie would last just one frame, Austin Peay breaking the deadlock with the long ball. Gleason and Hamilton hit back-to-back home runs with one out in the fourth to give the Govs a 3-1 lead. Willis would later deliver a two-out single to supply another run for a 4-1 advantage.
That would be enough for Newberg (2-0) who picked up his second straight OVC victory, holding the Bruins to one run on three hits in his five-inning outing. Reliever Zach Neff tossed the final four innings for his season’s second save, striking out six of the 16 batters he faced.
For the second-straight game, a Govs hitter finished 4-for-4 at the plate as Willis hit the mark Saturday, including a double and two RBI, after Giovannelli notched the feat in Friday’s opener. Gleason chipped in two RBI with his 1-for-3 effort that included a home run and sacrifice fly.
Belmont starter Dylan King (2-4) was tagged for four runs (three earned) on six hits over his four-inning outing and was tagged for the loss.
Left fielder Alex Ward and Payne, respectively batting eighth and ninth order, had the Bruins lone RBI.
Who Governed
Pitchers Brett Newberg and Zach Neff combined to stymie the Bruins offense, allowing just five hits in nine innings of work. They permitted just one base hit with a runner on base in the contest, that coming in the sixth inning that drove in a Bruins run. Newberg and Neff struck out 10 of the 38 batters they faced.
Silver Linings
Another 4-for-4.
A day after Giovannelli went 4-for-4 in the opener, center fielder Imani Willis posted his own 4-for-4 outing. Willis posted singles in the third and fourth innings, the latter driving in a run. He added a RBI double in the sixth and ended the day with a single in the eighth. He becomes the fifth Govs hitter to notch a four-hit day this season.
Rally To The Win.
The Govs comeback win was their fifth this season when the opponent scores first this season. Austin Peay is 12-6 when leading or tied after three innings.
Double-Digit Ks.
Newberg and Neff’s combined 10-strikeout performance was the eighth this season by the Govs pitching staff. It is the third time in OVC play the Govs pitchers have struck out 10 in a game.
Another Save Conversion.
Neff’s second save this season also was the third consecutive save conversion by the Govs bullpen. Prior to Saturday, Austin Peay had posted saves in its wins at Southeast Missouri, April 2nd, and at Southern Illinois, Tuesday.
Austin Peay and Belmont wrap up their three-game OVC series with a 1:00pm, Sunday contest at Raymond C. Hand Park.
