APSU Sports Information
Richmond, KY – Austin Peay State University’s baseball team first baseman Dre Gleason had three hits and four RBI but the Governors fell in 13 innings, 7-6, to Eastern Kentucky in Ohio Valley Conference action, Friday night at Earle Combs Stadium.
Austin Peay (15-18, 7-10 OVC) got out to a quick lead in Friday’s contest. Second baseman Garrett Giovannelli and third baseman Alex Robles each walked in front of Gleason, who hit a three-run home run to cap a three-run first inning.
Robles reached on an error to start the inning and scored on Gleason’s single. Austin Peay would go on to load the bases with no outs in the inning. However, Eastern Kentucky cut down a runner at home and later turned a double play via an appeal, limiting the Govs to one run after loading the bases.
However, Eastern Kentucky (21-15, 7-7 OVC) would see its bullpen shut down the Governors from the third inning on. Five Colonels pitchers combined to hold APSU to one run while stranding six runners on base for the next 10 innings.
The Colonels offense got a pair of runs back in the fourth inning as designated hitter Alex Holderback and center fielder Daniel McFarland each drove in a run. Eastern Kentucky then got single runs in the seventh, eighth and ninth innings to tie the game, 6-6. First baseman Ben Fisher would supply the game-tying run when he singled to right, allowing second baseman Cornell Nixon to score.
Neither team would threaten in the first three extra frames. Eastern Kentucky’s game-winning rally started when right fielder Nick Howie reached on an infield base hit. Back-to-back ground outs would move him to third base. Holderbach then hit a slow ground ball to second and beat the throw to first, allowing Howie to score and end the game.
Robles (3-7) was the hard-luck loser for a second straight game, surrendering the lone run on two hits in his two innings of work.
Gleason went 3-for-6 with four RBI to pace the Govs offense. That offense was held to 4-for-21 hitting with a runner in scoring position, including 0-for-3 with the bases loaded.
Eastern Kentucky reliever Max Ford (1-1) notched his first victory after holding the Govs one hit through 4.1 scoreless innings.
Cornell went 3-for-5 with two RBI to lead the EKU offensive effort that saw eight of its nine hitters post a hit. The Colonels were just 4-for-17 with a runner in scoring position, including 4-for-6 with a runner on third base.
Who Governed
Gleason got the Govs on the board in the first inning with a three-run home run that was his 10th this season. He would add a RBI single in the third as he drove in each of the Govs four runs. Gleason chipped in a single in the ninth inning and finished the game 3-for-6 with four RBI.
Next Up for APSU Baseball
Austin Peay will look to salvage a win in the series when it meets Eastern Kentucky in a noon (CT), Saturday series finale.
