APSU Baseball beats UT Martin 10-4 at Raymond C. Hand Park, Sunday

Sunday, April 29, 2018

Austin Peay Baseball pitcher Brandon Vial holds UT Martin scoreless for six inning as the Governors defeat the Skyhawks 10-4 at Raymond C. Hand Park, Sunday afternoon.

APSU Sports Information

APSU Baseball Clarksville, TN – Austin Peay State University starting pitcher Brandon Vial opened with six scoreless innings and APSU’s baseball team provided plenty of early run support as it secured an Ohio Valley Conference series with a 10-4 victory against UT Martin, Sunday at Raymond C. Hand Park.

Needing a Sunday win to secure the series the Governors turned to Vial who opened the game by retiring the first 10 batters he faced. He would allow a one out single in the fourth but would not allow a run through six innings.

Austin Peay (25-19, 15-9 OVC) provided its early run support via home runs in each of the first three innings. Right fielder Kyle Wilson hit a three-run homer in the first inning to put the Govs ahead. One inning later, second baseman Garrett Giovannelli added a two-run shot for a 5-0 lead. Finally, center fielder Nick Walker celebrated his birthday with a leadoff home run in the third.

The Governors would follow the home run barrage by producing its final four runs without a base hit. A wild pitch and sacrifice fly in the third extended the lead to 8-0. Then a trio of fielder’s choices after an error led to two more insurance runs in the fourth, pushing the lead to 10-0.

UT Martin (9-32, 5-16 OVC) would get on the scoreboard in the seventh with four consecutive batters reaching base safely. First baseman Ethan Whitley drove in a run with a double and would later score on an Austin Peay miscue. Shortstop Casey Harford added a run with a single before third baseman Billy Edwards closed the scoring with a sacrifice fly.

Vial (2-2) picked up his first conference win in his fourth OVC start. He held the Skyhawks to four runs (three earned) on five hits while striking out four in seven innings of work.

Wilson led the Govs offense with a 3-for-5, three RBI outing. Walker and Giovannelli each had two-hit days as the Govs posted 10 hits in the win.

UTM starter Austen Bullington (1-3) allowed eight runs on six hits and three walks in two-plus innings and was tagged for the loss. Left fielder Carson Strode, right fielder Collin Edwards and first baseman Ethan Whitley each had two hits for the Skyhawks, who were held to seven hits.