APSU Governors Baseball’s five errors prove undoing in 14-8 lose to Southeast Missouri Redhawks

APSU Sports: Austin Peay Baseball

Cape Girardeau, MO – Austin Peay State University committed a season-high five errors, including two in a pivotal seventh inning, in a 14-8 loss to Southeast Missouri, Sunday, at Capaha Field.

Corey was greeted rudely by both Southeast Missouri’s offense and the Austin Peay defense. Redhawks right fielder Clayton Evans singled to right field where the ball eluded Govs right fielder Rolando Gautier and Evans ended up on third base. It would take two batters, but Southeast Missouri broke the tie with center fielder Cole Bieser’s infield single. The Redhawks continued to press their advantage one out later when first baseman Matt Tellor drove in a run with a single.

Austin Peay’s defense saw its woes continue when SEMO designated hitter Ryan Barnes hit a ground ball to third base where it eluded APSU’s Kyle Schlatter, resulting in two runs scoring. Southeast Missouri tacked on a fifth run when reliever Don Whitson Jr.’s first pitch got by catcher P.J. Torres. Catcher Dalton Hewitt wrapped up the inning’s scoring with a RBI single and the Redhawks led 14-8.

“We gave them too many extra outs today,” said McClure. “I believed our pitching was good, I thought our pitchers threw the ball well. Our offense even did a good job getting a lead. But when we made something positive happen it seemed like we took steps backward by giving them extra outs. “

The Govs defensive woes did starting pitcher Ryan Quick no favors in the first inning as a pair of outfield errors led to a four-run Redhawks outburst. Quick survived to complete the inning but would not return for the second as reliever Kacy Kemmer entered the game as one of six relief pitchers the Govs were forced to use.

“I don’t believe we were mentally focused on the field today,” said Hankins. “We made a couple of errors and I believe it really got to us. Instead of coming out and grinding I think it ate at us. Altogether we have to play better as a team – and that’s pitching, hitting and defense. We’ve got to come together as a team to get back where we were the first half of the season.”

Austin Peay recovered offensively and scored the game’s next seven runs. The Govs tied the game with a four-run third inning that included outfielder Craig Massoni’s RBI single, shortstop Reed Harper’s two-run triple and a wild pitch that allowed Harper to score the tying run.

Second baseman Jordan Hankins generated a run on his own hustle in APSU’s two-run fifth inning. He started led off the inning with a bunt single. Hankins advanced to second on a fly ball, took third on a ground out and scored on a wild pitch. That wild pitch came after Harper walked and allowed him to advance to second where he scored on catcher P.J. Torres single, giving APSU a 7-4 lead.

Corey (0-1) suffered the loss in his third appearance as a pitcher, allowing six runs on three hits and recording one out. Quick left after allowing four runs on five hits in the first inning.

Hankins led the Govs with a 3-for-5 outing in which he scored twice. He became the 16th player to record 200 career hits with a ninth-inning single.

Southeast Missouri reliever Luke Shearrow (3-2) earned the win after allowing one unearned run over the final 4.1 innings, striking out six.

Barnes led Southeast Missouri with a 3-for-5, three RBI performance. He was one of six Redhawks hitters to record a multi-hit outing as Southeast Missouri finished with 17 hits.

Austin Peay closes out its six-game road trip with a 6:00pm, Tuesday contest at Evansville.

Box Score

Score by Innings                    R  H  E
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Austin Peay......... 004 120 100 -  8  9  5
Southeast Missouri.. 400 022 60X - 14 17  3
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