NASHVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – The Austin Peay State University baseball team had a big opportunity this past weekend. The team made the short trip to Nashville to take on the Lipscomb Bisons in a three-game series. Entering the series, the Govs were 10-8 in conference play and still within striking distance of the top of the Gold Division.
On Friday, the Govs got off to a hot start, scoring four runs in the first inning thanks to an Andres Matias grand slam. However, the Bisons responded with three runs of their own in the second inning, making it a one-run game. The next couple innings were scoreless until the Bisons added three more in the bottom of the fifth. The Govs were able to add one in the seventh, but nothing more, and ended up falling 6-5 in the first game.
On Saturday, the Govs were hoping to avenge the close loss and keep the series alive. Once again, the Govs got off to a hot start, leading 2-1 after the first inning. The Bisons added two more runs in the bottom of the third and then both teams added three runs in the fourth inning. The game ended up being tied at 10 heading into the ninth, when Lipscomb’s Cole Pippenger hit a walk-off single to centerfield.
| SPORTS REPORT: Sign up for the new weekly Clarksville sports newsletter
The Govs lost the first two games by two combined runs, and as a result, couldn’t win the series on Sunday. Regardless, the Govs came to play and closed the series out strong. D.J. Merriweather had his best-ever pitching performance, tossing 7.2 innings while allowing just one run and striking out eight. Ty Wisdom, Kyler Proctor, and Trevor Conley combined for seven hits, and the Govs won the finale, 6-2.
Losing two games by one run each is definitely disappointing, but it shows just how close this team is and how much they’ve improved. Back in March, when these rivals played for the first time of the season, the Bisons run-ruled the Govs in the finale, winning 19-5.
After the weekend, the Govs are sitting at 11-10 in conference play. Austin Peay is one game behind Lipscomb, two games behind Central Arkansas, and three behind North Alabama. Next, the Govs are slated to welcome in the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers on Tuesday night, before welcoming in Central Arkansas this upcoming weekend.
| BUSINESS OWNERS: Click here for a free consultation for advertising your business on Clarksville Now