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HomeSportsAPSU Baseball Govs beat Lipscomb Bisons, 11-8

APSU Baseball Govs beat Lipscomb Bisons, 11-8

APSU Sports Information

APSU Baseball - Austin Peay State UniversityClarksville, TN – Right fielder Chase Hamilton hit a grand slam and third baseman Logan Gray hit a two-run home run as Austin Peay State University’s baseball team powered its way past Lipscomb, 11-8 in Tuesday night nonconference action at Raymond C. Hand Park.

Austin Peay starter John Sparks (1-1) worked out of a jam after allowing the first two Lipscomb batters to reach base. He would surrender just one run on back-to-back fielder’s choice plays before catcher Ridge Smith ended the frame by throwing out a runner at second base.

Austin Peay Baseball gets 11-8 win over Lipscomb Bisons Tuesday night. (APSU Sports Information)
Austin Peay Baseball gets 11-8 win over Lipscomb Bisons Tuesday night. (APSU Sports Information)

The Governors offense responded by seeing its first two batters reach base safely, but Lipscomb starter Alex Dorso (0-1) retired the next two batters. But designated hitter Alex Robles would walk to load the bases, a situation Hamilton cleared up as he drove the ball over the wall in right center for a grand slam and a 4-1 APSU lead.

Lipscomb (19-18) would retake the lead in the third inning. With two out, first baseman Adam Lee hit a two-run single and third baseman Zeke Dodson followed with a two-run home run for a 5-4 Bisons advantage.

APSU Baseball's Chase HamiltonAgain Austin Peay (22-13) responded in its next time at bat. After outfielder Patrick Massoni‘s leadoff walk, Gray launched his two-run shot to give the Govs a 6-5 lead they would not relinquish. Pinch hitter Imani Willis would tack on a two-out RBI single and APSU led 7-5 after three innings.

The Governors would score in the fourth and fifth innings to extend their lead. Willis’ two-run single in the fourth pushed the advantage out to 10-5. One inning later, Gray tacked on his third RBI with a single to give the Govs a 11-6 lead.

Lipscomb would eke closer in the seventh, scoring two runs on right fielder Allan Hooker’s double. However, they could not close the gap further, leaving a runner in scoring position in the seventh and eighth innings.

APSU Baseball's Logan GraySparks was credited with the victory after allowing five runs on four hits over four innings, striking out six. The Govs bullpen limited the Bisons to three runs on four hits over the final five innings. Sophomore Zach Neff tossed a scoreless ninth to record his season’s first save.

Second baseman Garrett Copeland, Massoni and Gray – the top three in the Govs order – each had three hits. Gray went 3-for-5 with three RBI while Hamilton had a 1-for-3, four RBI performance. Willis ended his outing off the bench with two hits and three RBI.

Dorso was tagged for the loss after allowing seven runs on five hits and three walks over 2.2 innings. Dodson paced the Lipscomb offense with a 2-for-4, three RBI outing.

Austin Peay continues its four-game homestand when it hosts Eastern Kentucky in a three-game Ohio Valley Conference series, beginning with a 6:00pm, Friday contest at Raymond C. Hand Park.

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