KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – (CLARKSVILLENOW) First baseman Dre Gleaosn had three hits and four RBI, but a short-handed Austin Peay State University baseball squad could not hold its early lead in an 18-4 loss to nationally-ranked Tennessee, Wednesday afternoon, at Lindsey Nelson Stadium.

Austin Peay (9-7) grabbed the early lead thanks to Gleason’s bat as he hit a two-out, three-run home run in the first inning to push the Govs out to a 3-0 lead. Two innings later, he would single up the middle to drive in another Govs run for a 4-0 lead.

Tennessee (12-2) broke through in the third, scoring a run after a pair of walks to start the inning but ultimately leaving the bases loaded as APSU reliever Landon Kelly ended the threat with two fly outs. Two innings later, the Volunteers would use three walks to drive in a run and had the bases loaded with no outs. But reliever Jacques Pucheu recovered from walking the first batter he faced to retire the side with two fly outs and a strikeout.

The Volunteers were held scoreless on the first five at-bats with the bases loaded, but would not be denied when the situation arose again in the sixth. Tennessee sent 11 men to the plate in the decisive frame, but it was third baseman Jordan Rodgers who notched the first base hit with the bases loaded. His infield single drove in the game-tying run but a Govs error allowed the go-ahead run to score, putting UT ahead 5-4.

That Austin Peay miscue would snowball into a six run frame as Tennessee took control of the contest. The Govs defense would be charged with two more errors in a game-sealing seven-run seventh inning that saw Tennessee send 12 men to the plate.
Austin Peay reliever Zach Neff (0-1) suffered the loss after allowing the go-ahead runs in the sixth as part of his 1.1 innings of work. Govs starter Brett Newberg allowed just one run over 2.1 innings in his season’s first start but did not factor into the decision.

Gleason went 3-for-3 with four RBI to supply the Govs their four runs in the contest. Second baseman Garrett Giovannelli went 2-for-4 and scored twice.

Tennessee reliever Daniel Vasquez (2-0) picked up the win with two scoreless innings of relief. He retired six consecutive batters in a stretch that saw 10 Govs batters retired in order. The Volunteers used nine pitchers in the contest.

Catcher Pete Derkay led off the sixth inning with a home run and later had RBI when he was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded and on a sacrifice fly, finishing the day 1-for-1 with three RBI. Center fielder Brodie Leftridge also hit a home run in his first at-bat as part of a 1-for-2, two RBI effort.

Austin Peay continues its four-game road trip when it travels to Murray State for its first Ohio Valley Conference road series that also is part of the Heritage Bank Battle of the Border series. The Governors and Racers are scheduled to start the series with a 4 p.m., Friday contest at Reagan Field.