DELAND, FL (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – The Austin Peay baseball team ended its regular season slate last weekend and began preparing for the ASUN Championship in DeLand, Fla this week. The Govs entered the tournament as the No. 7 seed and thus were matched up against the No. 5 seeded Jacksonville Dolphins in Game 1 on Tuesday.

The Govs ultimately fell to the Dolphins by a score of 7-1, ending their season earlier than anyone expected.

The game started slowly for both offenses. Neither team plated a run until the third inning, when the Dolphins got on the board thanks to a balk from Govs’ pitcher Cody Airington. The Govs got a run in the top of the fifth to make it a 1-1 game, but the Dolphins responded with another run of their own in the bottom half of the frame.

Baseball team huddle in red uniforms on a field, players grouped together listening to a coach in a white shirt and cap.
Three baseball players stand at first base on a sunny field: a gray-uniform runner raises his arm in celebration while teammates watch.
Baseball baserunner in gray uniform and red helmet sprinting along the baselines on a dirt infield.
Austin Peay’s baseball team fell to Jacksonville in the opening game of the 2026 Atlantic Sun Conference Baseball Championship, Tuesday, May 19, 2026, at Melching Field in DeLand, Florida. (Alex Allard, APSU Athletics)
Baseball baserunner in gray with a red helmet celebrates by raising his fist as a teammate in white pinstripes watches nearby near a basepath.
Baseball pitcher in gray uniform on the pitcher's mound delivering a throw, ball in midair nearby
Baseball player in gray uniform and red cap reaches up with a glove to catch a ball near the outfield wall.
Right-handed pitcher in gray and red delivers a pitch from the mound during a daytime baseball game.
Baseball player in a gray uniform stands on the infield dirt with a glove in his left hand and a red cap on, facing forward on a sunny field.
Austin Peay’s baseball team fell to Jacksonville in the opening game of the 2026 Atlantic Sun Conference Baseball Championship, Tuesday, May 19, 2026, at Melching Field in DeLand, Florida. (Alex Allard, APSU Athletics)
Austin Peay’s baseball team fell to Jacksonville in the opening game of the 2026 Atlantic Sun Conference Baseball Championship, Tuesday, May 19, 2026, at Melching Field in DeLand, Florida. (Alex Allard, APSU Athletics)
Baserunner in gray and red on second base signals with his arm raised; umpire and a white-pinstripe player with number 15 are nearby on the infield.
Austin Peay’s baseball team fell to Jacksonville in the opening game of the 2026 Atlantic Sun Conference Baseball Championship, Tuesday, May 19, 2026, at Melching Field in DeLand, Florida. (Alex Allard, APSU Athletics)

A four-run sixth inning from the Dolphins ended up being the backbreaker. The Govs didn’t manage to score again after their one run in the fifth, and the Dolphins ended up escaping with a 7-1 victory. The Dolphins now move on to face the No. 4 seeded North Alabama Lions on Wednesday, while Austin Peay will return home to Clarksville.

Govs unable to match incredible success of 2025 season

Last season, the Govs finished with an impressive 45-14 record and won the regular season ASUN title. This year, the team understandably had high hopes but ended up finishing with a 24-31 record and a first-round conference tournament exit.

There’s still plenty of reason to believe this season will be just a temporary setback. Since Fanning has been in Clarksville, the Govs have won two regular-season titles and have had some of the most consistent success in program history. Last year, the team was able to land one of college baseball’s best recruiting classes, so there’s no reason to think that can’t happen again.

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