APSU Sports Information
Clarksville, TN – Junior right fielder Chase Hamilton hit a pair of solo home runs and sparked a four-run rally to help push Austin Peay State University’s baseball team past UT Martin, 8-3, in the Ohio Valley Conference series opener, Friday night, at Raymond C. Hand Park.
Austin Peay starter Alex Robles (8-2) got off to a rough start in a 28-pitch first inning, allowing three base runners to reach base with two outs.
Two batters later catcher Daniel Kerwin’s double to right center drove in a pair of runs for an early 2-0 UTM lead.
After Austin Peay (27-16, 17-6 OVC) was held scoreless in the first, Hamilton posted the first run with a one-out home run to right field.
He would then single in the fourth to start Austin Peay’s lead-grabbing rally.
Third baseman Ridge Smith followed Hamilton in the fourth and tied the game with a single and shortstop Clayton Smithson broke the tie with a run-scoring double. The Govs would tack on two more runs, one on a wild pitch and another on catcher Alex Sala‘s sacrifice fly to build a 5-2 lead.
Hamilton then led off the sixth with his second home run of the day to give the Govs a 6-2 lead. Robles followed with a two-out solo home run and Austin Peay’s lead reached five runs. Hamilton would then supply the Govs final run with a ground out in the seventh.
The offensive rally helped Robles pick up his season’s eighth win as he followed the first inning with six scoreless frames. It wasn’t the most efficient outing for the Govs starter as he allowed seven hits and walked three over seven innings. However, it was enough for him to become the seventh Austin Peay pitcher to reach the 20-career win plateau.
Hamilton finished the day 3-for-4 with three RBI while hitting his eighth and ninth home runs of the campaign. Four other Govs hitters each had a hit – all behind him in the order. The Govs 1-4 hitters were held hitless on the night.
UT Martin (15-29, 6-16 OVC) punched out 10 hits against the Govs pitching staff, but was held to three runs. Kerwin finished the day 3-for-4 with two RBI to pace the Skyhawk offense.
Skyhawks starter Patrick Barnard (4-3) went six innings but surrendered seven runs on six hits and four walks and was tagged for the loss.
Austin Peay and UT Martin resume their three-game OVC series with a 6:00pm, Saturday contest at Raymond C. Hand Park.
