CLARKSVILLE, Tenn.—A five-run fifth inning by the Austin Peay State University Governors proved to be the difference Wednesday night, as the home-standing Governors posted a 10-4 victory over the visiting University of Evansville baseball team at Raymond C. Hand Park in Clarksville, Tennessee.

 

Evansville jumped to an early 2-0 lead with single runs in the first and third innings thanks to an RBI single by sophomore designated hitter Andy Pascoe and a solo home run by junior first baseman Derek Melton. The lead would not last long though, as the Governors would plate a pair of unearned runs in the bottom of the fourth inning to tie the score at 2-2, before taking the lead for good with a five-run fifth inning.

 

With one out, UE relief pitcher Curtis Hudson (0-1) hit Austin Peay lead-off man Rafael Hill with a pitch. After a walk to third baseman Greg Bachman, infielder Tyler Farrar gave APSU a 3-2 lead with an RBI double down the left-field line. First baseman Matt Kole would quickly follow with a two-run single to push the lead to 5-2, before catcher Trey Lucas would cap the five-run frame with a towering two-run home run to left-center field, his fourth of the year.

 

The two teams would trade two-run innings in the seventh and eighth innings, before Austin Peay would cap the scoring with a single run in the bottom of the eighth inning. With the 10-4 victory, Austin Peay completed a two-game season-series sweep of the Purple Aces, after defeating UE, 5-2, in Evansville back on April 23.

 

Melton paced Evansville’s offense by going 2-for-5 with a home run, his fifth of the year, and two runs scored. First baseman Sean Loggins also had two hits, while freshman outfielder Nate Smith added a double, two walks, and a run scored at the top of the UE batting order. Lucas anchored the Austin Peay attack by going 3-for-4 with a double, a home run, and three runs scored.

 

With the victory, Austin Peay evens its record at 24-24. Evansville, meanwhile, falls to 13-36 overall. The Purple Aces will return to the diamond next on Friday night, as UE will welcome nationally-ranked Wichita State to Charles H. Braun Stadium for a three-game series. First-pitch for Friday’s series opener is set for 6:07 p.m. and all three games of the series can be heard live on 91.5 F.M.-WUEV.