CARBONDALE, Ill. – (ESPN CLARKSVILLE) First baseman John McDonald hit his first home run and drove in four runs but Austin Peay State University’s baseball team could not hang on to an early lead in a 10-6 loss to Southern Illinois, Wednesday afternoon.
McDonald, who made his first start at first base, provided a two-run home run in the fifth inning to give Austin Peay (16-13) a 5-3 lead. It was one of his three hits – each driving in a run – for his second three-hit game this season.
Southern Illinois (15-13) needed an inning to piece together its comeback, stringing together six consecutive hits in a five-run sixth inning to take the lead. Left fielder Alex Lyon supplied the go-ahead run with the fourth single in the streak. Designated hitter Drew Curtis followed with a sixth consecutive single to drive in a securing run.
McDonald’s 3-for-5 outing paced the Governors 10-hit attack. Right fielder Kyle Wilson went 2-for-5, including a two-run single in the fourth that gave Austin Peay its first lead.
Reliever Josh Rye (0-3), the fourth of seven Austin Peay pitchers used in the contest, surrendered four runs (three earned) on three hits and two walks in an inning-plus of work and was left with the loss.
Lyon led Southern Illinois with a 3-for-4 outing that saw him score three times. Five other Saluki hitters had two hits each and all 10 batters used had a base hit in a 17-hit outing.
Noah Farmer (2-0), the second Salukis pitcher, picked up the win after striking out four batters in two innings while allowing two runs. Trey McDaniel picked up the save after retiring two of the three batters he faced.