CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – (ESPN Clarksville) Austin Peay State University’s baseball team saw its five-game home win streak come to an end as Jacksonville rallied to post an 11-3 victory in nonconference action on Joe Maynard Field at Raymond C. Hand Park.
For the second straight game, Austin Peay (25-19) scored the game’s first runs, scoring twice in the second. After designated hitter John McDonald doubles to start the frame, the Govs used three consecutive bunts to score a run – third baseman Gino Avros executing a squeeze play flawlessly to allow McDonald to score. Center fielder Garrett Spain would drive in the second run with a sacrifice fly.
Jacksonville (25-21) would respond quickly to Austin Peay’s opening rally, scoring two in the fourth inning and two more in the fifth thanks to home runs. Right fielder Duncan Hunter tied the game in the fifth with a two-run homer to right field. One inning later, first baseman John Cassala gave the Dolphins their first lead of the weekend with a two-run shot to left field.
After the Dolphins got on the board, JU starter AJ Jones would bring the Govs offense to a halt. Facing two runners in scoring position with one out in the fourth, he struck out consecutive batters to hold the 2-2 score. Those two strikeouts started a stretch where the Dolphins starter retired nine of the 10 batters he faced, taking the 4-2 lead into the seventh.
Jacksonville broke the game open in the eighth, sending 11 men to the plate and scoring six times. Third baseman Angel Camacho hit a leadoff home run to start the inning, and the Dolphins would get four walks – one with the bases loaded – followed by second baseman Scott Dubrule’s two-run double and designated hitter Jacob Southern’s RBI single to push the lead to 10-2.
Left field Aaron Campbell hit his season’s first home run in the eighth inning as part of his 1-for-4 day at the plate. First baseman Parker Phillips and McDonald each went 2-for-3. Center fielder Garrett Spain saw his reached-safely streak end at 43 games.
Govs starting pitcher Jacques Pucheu (6-3) allowed four runs on three hits and five walks over six innings and suffered his first home loss in 2019.
Jones (7-3) notched his seventh win after holding Austin Peay to two runs on four hits over 6.2 innings. Reliever Nick Love picked up his first save with 2.1 innings of work that saw him allow one run on three hits.
Cassala led Jacksonville’s offense with a 2-for-6, two RBI day. Dubrule added three RBI in a 1-for-5 outing.
Saturday’s game was Governors Military Appreciation Day. The Govs hosted Gold Star family members who have lost a loved one in combat. During the game, the Governors wore a one-of-a-kind jersey emblazoned with a gold star and the fallen soldiers initials. The game baseball was brought in by one of APSU’s helicopters in their rotor-wing fleet program.
Austin Peay and Jacksonville conclude their three-game nonconference tilt with a 1 p.m., Sunday contest at Raymond C. Hand Park. The Governors will recognize their 12 seniors before the start of the game.