CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – The Austin Peay baseball team welcomed the Eastern Kentucky Colonels to Raymond C. Hand Park this weekend for the Govs’ final home series of the season. The Govs entered the weekend on a positive note after winning last weekend’s home series against the Central Arkansas Bears.
The Colonels, meanwhile, have been at the bottom of the ASUN standings the entire season. The first time these two rivals met up, back in early April, the Govs won two of the three games in the series. Heading into this rematch, the Govs were hoping to get a sweep or series win to end the home slate excitingly.
However, despite not having much to play, the Colonels fought hard all weekend. On Friday night, the Govs’ bats struggled to get going, and the team only mustered two runs. As a result, the Govs lost that first matchup, 5-2.
Saturday’s contest was very similar. Again, the Govs just couldn’t get the bats going, and ended with only two runs again. This time, the Colonels scored four, escaping with a 4-2 win and already clinching a series win before Sunday.
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Despite not having a series win to play for, the Govs still had a lot on the line Sunday. The team needed a win in the finale to clinch a spot in the ASUN Championship. Only four teams from each division earn a spot in the conference championship, while the bottom two teams in each division are left out.
Luckily, the Govs came to play on Sunday. While the bats were cold in the first two games, they were on fire on Sunday. The Govs totaled 12 hits and 15 runs, and ended up winning the game 15-2 in seven innings. D.J. Merriweather and Ty Wisdom both homered on the day, and nine Govs got at least one hit.
The win ensured the Govs will head to DeLand, FL, to play in the ASUN Championship, as they clinched the final spot from the Gold Division. Austin Peay will wrap up the regular season next weekend with a road series at North Alabama.
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