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HomeSportsAPSU Baseball falls to Kansas State, 15-10

APSU Baseball falls to Kansas State, 15-10

APSU Sports Information

APSU BaseballManhattan,  KS – Catcher Alex Sala hit his season’s first home run and Austin Peay State University’s baseball team pounded out 18 hits but it wasn’t enough in a 15-10 nonconference loss to Kansas State, Tuesday night at Tointon Family Stadium. 

For the fourth straight game, Austin Peay (13-8) found itself trailing after the first inning. Kansas State batted in four runs in the bottom of the first – three scoring on designated hitter Jordan Maxson’s single aided by a Governors error.

Austin Peay unable to beat Kansas State Tuesday night, despite racking up 18 hits. (APSU Sports Information)
Austin Peay unable to beat Kansas State Tuesday night, despite racking up 18 hits. (APSU Sports Information)

And like the three games prior to Tuesday’s affair, the Governors forged a come-from-behind effort to take the lead early. Austin Peay struck for five runs with two outs in the fourth inning – Sala’s two-run home run highlighting the outburst as the Govs took a 6-5 lead.

Kansas State (12-8) regained the lead with two runs in its half of the fourth, Maxson again giving the Wildcats a 7-6 lead with his sacrifice fly. Austin Peay would rally again to tie the game, 7-7, in the fifth as Sala doubled and then scored on a KSU defensive miscue.

The Wildcats took control in their half of the fifth, striking for five runs in the frame to take a commanding 12-7 lead. Shortstop Cameron Thompson supplied a two-run double and right fielder Hanz Harker capped the burst with a three-run home run.

Austin Peay would edge closer – scoring two runs in the seventh on shortstop Garrett Kueber‘s bases-loaded single and adding another run on another Kansas State miscue in the ninth—but could not close the gap.  

Sala finished with a triple shy of the cycle in his 3-for-5, two RBI outing. Giovannelli and Kueber each had four hit days, Giovannelli scoring four times in a 4-for-6 outing while Kueber drove in two runs in his 4-for-4 effort.

Govs reliever Greg Leban (1-1) was tagged for the loss after allowing five runs on four hits and four walks in 1.1 innings.

Maxson ended the day 2-for-5 with three RBI while Harker added a 2-for-2, four RBI outing that included three walks to pace the Kansas State offense. Wildcats reliever Hudson Treu (1-0) notched the win with two innings of work, allowing two runs on three hits.

Who Governed: Alex Sala

Making his fifth start this season, Sala kick-started the Govs five run fourth-inning outburst with his two-out, two-run home run – a towering shot that hit off the top of the Tointon Family Stadium scoreboard in right field. One inning later, he supplied a two-out double and scored to tie the game when Giovanneli’s line drive was misplayed. He tacked on a seventh inning two-out single and scored again on Kueber’s single.

Govs Notably

Still Streaking
The Govs middle infield duo of Kueber and Giovannelli each had four-hit days and extended their respecitive reached base safely streaks. Giovannelli, who also has a seven-game hit streak that is the longest by a Govs hitter this season, owns a 27-game streak that dates back to last season. Meanwhile, Kueber has reached base in all 21 games this season.

Big Offensive Night
Austin Peay’s offense posted a season-high 18 hits in Tuesday’s loss, including a season-best five doubles – two from Giovannelli. The Governors 26 total bases also were a season high and the 10-run outburst was its most in a midweek outing and the third time in the last four games it has scored at least 10 runs.

Mysterious Midweek Woes
Despite the offensive outburst, Austin Peay remained winless in midweek outings. The Govs now are 0-6 on games played Tuesday or Wednesday – with a chance to break that streak coming in tomorrow’s series finale.

Up Next for APSU Baseball

Austin Peay closes its stay in the Sunflower State with a noon, Wednesday contest. The Governors will send freshman lefty Harley Gollert (1-1, 5.02 ERA) to the mound for his second start this season.

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