46.3 F
Clarksville
Friday, March 29, 2024
HomeSportsAPSU Baseball starts OVC play at Murray State, Sunday

APSU Baseball starts OVC play at Murray State, Sunday

APSU Sports Information

APSU BaseballClarksville, TN – The Austin Peay State University (APSU) baseball team begins its second road trip of 2019 when it faces Murray State in the Ohio Valley Conference-opening series for both teams this weekend.

The series also is part of the Heritage Bank Battle of the Border between the two athletic departments.

Austin Peay Men's Baseball travels to Murray State for three game series, Sunday-Monday. (APSU Sports Information)
Austin Peay Men’s Baseball travels to Murray State for three game series, Sunday-Monday. (APSU Sports Information)

The schedule for the three-game OVC set has been modified due to rain forecast in the area. The series will be played in a Sunday-Monday window with the schedule to be determined as weather allows.

Austin Peay returns to the road after posting its second come-from-behind win in a midweek affair, rallying from a seven-run deficit to down Lipscomb 12-11, Tuesday. The top five of the Govs order did the bulk of the damage with 11 hits and nine RBI in the win.

Murray State saw its midweek outing postponed by the weather and returns to action after dropping a three-game series, 2-1, to Illinois State last weekend. The Racers offense was held to a .204 batting average in 13 runs in the three-game series against the Redbirds.

First Hacks

Fifteen different Governors have started a game in the season’s first 10 games. Only four players have started all 10 games in 2019: center fielder Garrett Spain, utility man Parker Phillips, utility man Malcolm Tipler and shortstop Bobby Head.

Entering this week’s action, Austin Peay has played the nation’s 45th toughest schedule — and toughest among all OVC programs. The Govs have played 11-win Vanderbilt, 9-win Indiana State and 8-win Kentucky already this season.

Senior catcher David Martinez is batting 14-for-27 (.519) during his current eight-game hit streak. He has pushed his season average to team-leading .500, which ranks eighth among Division I hitters (third among catchers).

Center fielder Garrett Spain has reached base in all 10 games as a Governor. Among freshman Division I hitters his .500 on-base percentage ranks 17th while his .392 batting average is 21st.

Junior utility man Parker Phillips also has reached base safely in all 10 games this season. He hit his fourth home run of 2019 against Lipscomb, Tuesday, and is three homers shy of breaking the APSU career record.

Second baseman Garrett Kueber is 4-for-8 in his last two games, including a 3-for-5 outing against Lipscomb, Tuesday.

Freshman utility man Malcolm Tipler tied an APSU record with four walks against Lipscomb, Tuesday, and scored in each of the Govs final three in-nings.

Senior catcher Alex Sala also walked four times against Lipscomb, Tuesday, tying the APSU record and has five walks in his first nine plate appearanc-es this season.

Junior Andrew Flaherty made started at first base for the first time in 2019 against Lipscomb, Tuesday. He has reached base safely in all four starts this season and has hit 3-for-7 at the plate in his last two games.

Freshman designated hitter Matt Joslin reached base safely in his first four games before failing to reach base after coming off the bench against Lipscomb, Tuesday.

Senior outfielder Aaron Campbell has reached base in each of his last four games and six of his seven games played but has missed the previous two games due to injury.

Freshman Gino Avros had an RBI in both contests against the Sycamores. He came off the bench against Lipscomb, Tuesday, and led off the sixth by earning a walk and later scoring.

Sophomore shortstop Bobby Head has seen two of his three hits leave the yard in 2019. Those two homers account for all of his five RBI this season.

Sophomore transfer Griffin Rivers posted his first collegiate hit with a pinch-hit single in last Friday’s contest at Indiana State.

Toeing The Rubber

Senior left-hander Jacques Pucheu has had a quality start (6+ IP with less than 3 ER) in two of his first three outings in 2019 but has not earned a decision in either outing. He owns an impressive 1.59 ERA in his three starts with 20 strikeouts in 17 innings pitched.

Redshirt senior lefty Josh Rye will return to the starting rotation after seeing his potential start at Indiana State erased due to inclement weather. He is 1-1 with a 3.27 ERA in his two starts this season.

Senior righty Brandon Vial will get the nod in Game 3 after posting a 3.86 ERA and 12 strikeouts over 9.1 innings in his two previous starts.

Austin Peay starting pitchers have combined for a 2-3 record and 4.35 ERA with 56 strikeouts in 49.2 innings pitched (10.15 K/9).

The Governors bullpen has 46 strikeouts in 39.2 innings (10.44 K/9).

Austin Peay pitchers have picked off seven baserunners in the season’s first 10 games.

APSU Governor vs. Murray State Racers

Austin Peay and Murray State have met 207 times previously with the Racers owning a narrow 104-103 edge in the series.

Murray State has won the last two OVC series played at Reagan Field, and holds a 50-37 edge at home in the series.

The Govs swept the 2018 season series, sweeping the three-game OVC series in Clarksville before picking up a midweek victory in Murray.

RELATED ARTICLES

Latest Articles