LEADING OFF

Austin Peay closes a season-opening eight-game homestand when it hosts longtime foe Western Kentucky for a 3 p.m., Tuesday contest on Joe Maynard Field at Raymond C. Hand Park.

The Governors closed last weekend’s SAF Dirt Classic with a comeback 18-11 victory against Evansville, Sunday. Nine different Govs recorded an RBI in the victory with junior shortstop Bobby Head and junior catcher Alex Hay each posting three RBI to lead the effort.

In the season’s first two weeks sophomore third baseman Gino Avros is pacing the Govs with 10 hits and is the only player to reach safely in each of the first seven games. Head also has 10 hits while Hay and freshman outfielder Skyler Luna each have a team-leading seven RBI.

Western Kentucky is off to a 5-2 start in 2020 with loss No. 2 coming in a Sunday series finale against Wright State. The Hilltoppers own a win against an Ohio Valley Conference member already this season; they held off Murray State, 7-6, last Tuesday in Bowling Green. WKU’s pitching staff has been its strength in the season’s first two weeks, posting 3.09 ERA with 66 strikeouts in 64 innings pitched.

FIRST HACKS

  • Sophomore third baseman Gino Avros extended his reached safely streak to 21 games after reaching safely in all 4 games of the SAF Dirt Classic.  He has a hit in 6 of this season’s 7 games and a walk in 4 games.
  • Junior transfer catcher Alex Hay’s first multi-hit game – a 3-for-4, 3 RBI effort against Evansville – pushed him to a team-leading .412 batting average and he is tied for the team lead with 7 RBI.
  • Transfer freshman Skyler Luna was hitless against Samford, Friday, but bounced back with a hit against Bradley and a pinch-hit RBI single against Evansville. He is tied for the team lead with 7 RBI with an RBI in 5 of 7 games.
  • Junior shortstop Bobby Head enjoyed a 2-for-5, 3 RBI outing against Evansville, Sunday, to extend his hit streak to 3 games. He is tied for the team lead in hits (10) and is second in RBI (6).
  • Senior second baseman Malcolm Tipler went 3-for-5 against Evansville, Sunday, in his first start in left field. He started the season’s first 6 games at second base and reached base safely in 6 of the first 7 games.
  • Sophomore center fielder Garrett Spain hit his season’s first home run, Sunday, against Evansville. He’s off to a slow start in the hit column (.192 BA) but has 6 walks and 2 HBP (.382 OBP).
  • Sophomore Matt Joslin snapped a season-opening 3-game hitless streak with a double against Bradley, Saturday, before turning in 2 hits and 2 RBI against Evansville, Sunday.
  • Left field has been a bit of a revolving door for the Govs early this season with five different players making a start there. Junior transfers TJ Foreman and Ty DeLancey each have two starts in left this season.
  • Freshman Reid Brown has started 5 of the season’s first 7 games (3 DH/2 1B). He has a hit in 4 of his first 7 games played and has scored in each of his last 4 times reaching base (3 BB, 1 H).
  • Off the bench, Austin Peay pinch hitters are batting .364 (4-for-11) a home run (senior Tyler Hubbard) and two RBI.

OUT OF THE BULLPEN

  • Junior transfer Austin Carder assumed the role of closer during the opening weekend. He has 2 appearances this season, striking out 4 batters in 2 innings of work.
  • Senior Tucker Weaver has taken up the setup role for Carder. He has 2 of the Govs 3 wins this season and has 3 relief appearances with 3 strikeouts in 4 innings.