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Austin Peay Baseball to take on the Memphis Tigers and Evansville Purple Aces in midweek games

Austin Peay Governors at Memphis Tigers
Tuesday, March 13th, 2012 | 6:30pm
Memphis, TN | Stadium: FedEx Park (2,000)

Evansville Purple Aces vs. Austin Peay Governors
Wednesday, March 14th, 2012 | 6:00pm
Clarksville, TN | Stadium: Raymond C. Hand Park (777)

Austin Peay State University GovernorsClarksville, TN – Austin Peay’s baseball team returns to action with a pair of midweek contests, seeking to regain precious momentum. The Govs will travel to Memphis for a 6:30pm, Tuesday contest at FedEx Field before returning home to host Evansville in a 6:00pm, Wednesday outing at Raymond C. Hand Park.

Austin Peay Men's Baseball. (Courtesy: Austin Peay Sports Information)
Austin Peay Men's Baseball. (Courtesy: Austin Peay Sports Information)

Austin Peay’s pitchers recorded 16 strikeouts against Arkansas State, March 11th. It was the most strikeouts recorded in a single-game since the start of the 1996 season. Junior Tyler Rogers notched seven of those strikeouts in 4.1 innings of relief before senior Mike Hebert followed with eight strikeouts in the final 4.0 innings.

Fourteen games into the season and the Govs have three walk-off victories to their credit, including two in extra innings. Senior third baseman Greg Bachman became the latest walk-off hero, with an RBI single against Arkansas State in Sunday’s 10-9, 11-inning victory. Sophomore second baseman Jordan Hankins had a game-winning single in the Govs 10-inning victory against Iowa, March 3rd, and junior shortstop Reed Harper belted a walk-off solo home run against Illinois State, February 18th.

About This Week’s Opponents

Memphis

Memphis TigersThe Tigers bring a five-game losing streak into Tuesday’s meeting • Memphis dropped two seven-inning games to nationally-ranked Baylor (2-1 in eight innings and 7-3) Sunday • Also included in the losing streak are two losses to Louisiana-Monroe and a loss to Bradley • Memphis opened the season winning two of three from OVC member SIU Edwardsville • Senior designated hitter Eli Hynes leads the Tigers in batting average (.371), home runs (4) and RBI (16) through 15 games.

Senior outfielder Adam McClain (.349) and sophomore outfielder Derrick Thomas (.327) are ranked second and third, respectively in batting average • Tuesday starter Michael Wills will be making his season’s third start after allowing one earned run in starts at Louisiana-Monroe (March 6th, 7 innings) and Mississippi (February 28th, 6 innings).

Evansville

Evansville Purple AcesThe Purple Aces are amidst a five-game stretch of OVC competition • Evansville won a three-game series against Tennessee Tech over the weekend, winning the first two games (4-1, 11-6) before dropping the finale (10-2) • The Purple Aces will host UT Martin, Tuesday, before traveling to Clarksville TN • Sunday’s loss to TTU snapped UE’s five-game win streak that included wins against Eastern Illinois and at Western Kentucky • Evansville is 4-2 against OVC teams this season.

Junior outfielder Jason Hockenmeyer leads the team with a .372 batting average • Sophomore third baseman Jake Mahon has a team-best 12 RBI and is batting .280 this season • Evansville has not hit a home run in its first 15 games.

Governors Quick Hits

  • Austin Peay salvaged a win in its own Riverview Inn Challenge last weekend, defeating Arkansas State, 10-9, in extra innings.
  • The Govs lost the weekend’s first two games to Northern Illinois (5-1 in 10 innings) and Dayton (12-1). Designated hitter Jon Clinard led the Govs with 5 hits (.417 batting average) during the Challenge and batted leadoff in Sunday’s victory.
  • Third baseman Greg Bachman had 3 hits and 3 RBI, including a two-run home run and walk-off RBI-single against Arkansas State, Sunday.
  • Second baseman Jordan Hankins had 4 hits, including two doubles.
  • APSU’s offense was limited to 23 hits (.228 batting average) and 12 runs in the three-game Challenge.
  • Game 1 starter Ryan Quick allowed 2 or fewer runs in his fourth consecutive start, but did not earn a decision against Northern Illinois after allowing 1 run and striking out 8 over 8 innings.
  • Game 2 starter Zach Toney (3.2 innings, 8 runs) and  Game 3 starter Casey Delgado (1.2 innings, 3 runs) both suffered through their season’s shortest outings.
  • Reliever Mike Hebert made an appearance in all 3 games of the Challenge and picked up the win against Arkansas State, striking out 8 over 4 innings.
  • Closer Tyler Rogers came on in relief of Delgado in the 2nd inning against Arkansas State and went 4.1 innings, striking out 7 and allowed one run.
  • Austin Peay was picked to finish first in the OVC’s preseason poll.
  • Four Governors were selected to the league’s preseason team – Toney, Harper, senior outfielder Michael Blanchard and sophomore second baseman Jordan Hankins.
  • Austin Peay returns 7 of its 8 defensive starters from last season.

Four Named To Riverview Inn All-Challenge Squad

Senior third baseman Greg Bachman, sophomore starting pitcher Ryan Quick, senior relief pitcher Mike Hebert and senior designated hitter Jon Clinard were each selected to the Riverview Inn All-Challenge team following the tournament’s conclusion.

Six Picked To Riverview Inn All-Classic Team

Six Govs players were named to the Riverview Inn All-Classic team, March 4th, following the team’s tournament sweep. Sophomore catcher P.J. Torres, sophomore second baseman Jordan Hankins, senior third baseman Greg Bachman, sophomore outfielder Rolando Gautier, sophomore starting pitcher Ryan Quick and junior relief pitcher Tyler Rogers were each tapped to the squad.

Probable Starting Pitchers

Date Time Austin Peay Starter Opponent Starter APSU Radio/Internet
Tuesday 6:30pm RHP Lucas Anderson LHP Michael Wills None
at Memphis (Sr., 2-0, 2.31 ERA) (RJr., 0-0, 2.63 ERA)
Wednesday 6:00pm RHP Casey Delgado TBA None
vs. Evansville (Jr., 2-1, 8.10 ERA)
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