CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – The Austin Peay State University baseball team had a huge series against Central Arkansas this past weekend. The Govs needed to pick up some conference wins as the series winds to a close and they look to clinch a spot in the ASUN Tournament.
The Govs entered the weekend with a 21-23 overall record and a 11-10 mark in conference play. The Bears, meanwhile, entered with a 26-19 overall record and a 13-8 conference mark, meaning this series will likely end up having postseason seeding implications.
In Friday night’s opener, the Bears got off to a hot start, but that wouldn’t last. A solo home run in the first and another solo homer in the second gave the Bears a 2-1 lead heading into the third, but that would be all the offense the Bears would have for the night. Austin Peay’s pitching dominated after the second inning, and a four-run fifth inning was enough to give the Govs a 5-2 win.
On Saturday, the Govs received some more excellent pitching. Ryker Walton had his best start of the season, going six innings and allowing just five hits and one run while striking out eight and walking just three. Gavin Alveti and Brody Lanham then finished things off, combining for three innings of no-run ball.
However, the elite pitching was almost wasted, as the Govs were held without a run through eight innings. Then, Paris Pridgen drew a walk in the bottom of the ninth that drew in the tying run, and Zion Taylor followed that up with a game-winning single.
As a result, the Govs entered Sunday already having the series win locked up. The Sunday finale was the most offensive game of the series, with both teams exchanging runs early. Then, the Bears put up five runs in the fourth inning to make it a 7-1 game entering the fifth. However, a Ty Wisdom three-run shot put the Govs back in the game, and it was then 7-4 entering the sixth. The Bears added one more run and the Govs added three of their own, falling short by one and losing 8-7.
It would have been nice to get the sweep, but the Govs will undoubtedly take a series win. Now, Austin Peay remains firmly in the hunt in the Gold Division with two more conference series to play.
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