CHARLESTON, Ill. – Center fielder Garrett Spain homered and had three RBI as Austin Peay State University’s baseball team won a wild Ohio Valley Conference series opener, 13-9, against Eastern Illinois, Friday, at Coaches Stadium.

Austin Peay (27-20, 17-8 OVC) got out to as good a start as it could have imagined, sending 12 men to the plate in the first inning and scoring six runs. The Govs saw their cause helped by four walks (two with the bases loaded), a hit batter and an error. However, APSU helped its cause with left fielder Aaron Campbell’s two-run double and second baseman Malcolm Tipler’s two-run single.

Eastern Illinois (24-25, 13-15 OVC) did not let the Govs opening rally go unanswered. The Panthers hit four home runs over the next three innings to close the gap. Center fielder Grant Emme had a two-run homer in the first and added a solo shot in the third. Catcher Ryan Knernschield and second baseman Jimmy Govern also had solo home runs as the Panthers closed to 6-5.

However, the Govs bullpen entered the fray and stalled the Panthers run. Reliever Tucker Weaver was the first man out of the bullpen and struck out a batter to end the third with the tying run on base then added two more scoreless frames. Greg Leban would add another two scoreless innings of work before a two-run home run ended his outing.

While the relief corps was holding the fort, Austin Peay’s offense started to solve Eastern Illinois reliever Tyler Jones. A three-run fifth came together thanks to a Tipler RBI double and Spain’s two-out RBI single. Another three-run burst in the eighth opened with Spain’s leadoff home run and designated hitter Matt Joslin added a sacrifice fly, extending the lead to 13-7.

Weaver (1-1) notched his first win as a Governor with his 2.1 innings of scoreless relief, striking out four of the eight batters he faced while allowing one hit. Leban struck out six of the 11 batters he faced and closer Brett Newberg tossed a scoreless ninth to secure the win.

Spain led the Govs with a 2-for-4, three RBI outing that included his sixth home run of 2019. Tipler went 3-for-4 with a double and a walk.

EIU starter Michael Yasenka did not make it out of the first inning, surrendering six runs on three hits and four walks while recording two outs in the loss. Reliever Tyler Jones went 6.1 innings, allowing six runs on seven hits and four walks.

Emme paced Eastern Illinois with his 2-for-4, three RBI outing. First baseman Hunter Morris added a 1-for-4, three RBI effort that included a two-run home run in the eighth.

Austin Peay and Eastern Illinois will resume their three-game OVC series with an 11 a.m., Saturday contest.

Complete recap with notes at LetsGoPeay.com | http://bit.ly/303gfR4

Final Statistics | http://bit.ly/308QZce