Austin Peay Sports Information
Clarksville, TN – Two home runs and a quality outing from starting pitcher Jared Carkuff were not enough as Austin Peay State University let a lead slip away late in a 5-4 Ohio Valley Conference loss to Morehead State, Sunday afternoon at Raymond C. Hand Park.
Morehead State won the three-game league set, 2-1, for its first OVC series victory in Clarksville since the 1999 season. Austin Peay loses the league series after winning the Friday opener for the second consecutive week.Austin Peay (22-19, 13-11 OVC) jumped out to a 4-0 lead thanks to a pair of home runs. Left fielder Cayce Bredlau opened the scoring with a three-run home run in the third inning. First baseman Dre Gleason upped the lead to four runs with a leadoff home run in the seventh.
Meanwhile, Carkuff was putting zeros on the scoreboard. He held Morehead State scoreless through the first seven innings, striking out six batters. However, he ran into trouble when he returned to start the eighth, allowing a leadoff walk then a double before departing the game.
Morehead State (27-17, 13-8 OVC) needed just one swing of the bat to change the game’s momentum as first baseman Kane Sweeney hit a three-run home run off the first Govs reliever, slashing the deficit to one run.
Austin Peay then turned to stopper A.J. Gaura to try and end the rally. However, he issued a walk and a single to the first two batters he faced. Gaura got to two outs with the next two batters, recording a strike out and a fielder’s choice, and had runners on the corners with two out and a one-run lead.
Eagles third baseman Blaine Tanner tied the game with a bloop single to center field, tying the game. Designated hitter Clayton Meyer broke the tie with a single to right field, giving Morehead State a 5-4 lead.
The Govs would have one more chance to tie the game, right fielder Josh Wilson leading off the ninth with a single. Austin Peay moved pinch runner Chase Hamilton to third base with a sacrifice bunt and a ground out, but could not drive the run in as center fielder Patrick Massoni‘s fly ball was caught in left.
Gaura (1-1) suffered the loss after allowing two runs on three hits and a walk in one inning of work. Carkuff was left with no decision after holding Morehead State to two runs on four hits in seven-plus innings.
Six different Govs recorded a hit in a six-hit outing. Bredlau finished 1-for-3 with three RBI and a sacrifice bunt.
Morehead State starter David Calderon (3-1) benefited from the late rally, picking up the win after allowing four runs on five hits and three walks in seven innings. Reliever Brent Stoneking pick up his third save with two scoreless innings.
Sweeney paced the Eagles offense with a 2-for-5, three RBI effort. Catcher Chris Robinson went 2-for-4 as Morehead State was held to eight hits.
Austin Peay returns to action with a home-and-home series against Western Kentucky during the week. The Govs travel to Western Kentucky for a 6:00pm, Tuesday contest before the Hilltoppers return the favor with a 6:00pm, Wednesday contest at Raymond C. Hand Park.
Box Score
Morehead State (27-17 / 13-8) -vs- Austin Peay (22-19 / 13-11)
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Morehead State Eagles | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 8 | 0 |
Austin Peay Governors | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 6 | 1 |
W: CALDERON, David (3-1)Â Â Â L:GAURA, A.J. (1-1) S:STONEKING, Brent (3)
Morehead State 5
Player | AB | R | H | RBI | BB | SO | LOB | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
cf | KENT, Ryan | 5 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
1b | SWEENEY, Kane | 5 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
rf | RAWE, Brandon | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
c | ROBINSON, Chris | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
ss | SPENCER, Robby | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
lf | NEWELL, Nick | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
3b | TANNER, Blaine | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
dh | NIEMANN, Tyler | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
ph/dh | MEYER, Clayton | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
2b | MORRIS, Braxton | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
p | CALDERON, David | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
p | STONEKING, Brent | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Totals | 37 | 5 | 8 | 5 | 2 | 7 | 7 |
Batting
2B:KENT, Ryan (1); SWEENEY, Kane (1)
HR:SWEENEY, Kane (1)
Baserunning
SB:ROBINSON, Chris (1); MORRIS, Braxton (1)
Austin Peay 4
Player | AB | R | H | RBI | BB | SO | LOB | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
3b | SMITH, Ridge | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
lf | BREDLAU, Cayce | 3 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
ss | COPELAND, Garrett | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
rf | WILSON, Josh | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
pr | HAMILTON, Chase | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
dh | ROBLES, Alex | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
1b | GLEASON, Dre | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
cf | MASSONI, Patrick | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
c | MARIK, T.J. | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
2b | WILLIS, Imani | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
p | CARKUFF, Jared | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
p | COSTANZO, Michael | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
p | GAURA, A.J. | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
p | PRIMASING, Levi | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Totals | 29 | 4 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
Batting
HR:BREDLAU, Cayce (1); GLEASON, Dre (1)
SH:BREDLAU, Cayce (1); ROBLES, Alex (1)
Baserunning
CS:MASSONI, Patrick (1)
Fielding
E:WILLIS, Imani (1)