RALEIGH, N.C. – (CLARKSVILLENOW) Pitcher Alex Robles and first baseman Dre Gleason each hit home runs but Austin Peay State University’s baseball team could not keep pace with nationally-ranked North Carolina State in a 9-3 loss, Friday, at Doak Field.

North Carolina State (3-1) leaned on right fielder Brock Deatherage and left fielder Brett Kinneman to jump out to an early lead and then pad that advantage. Deatherage doubled to start the bottom of the second and Kinneman drove him in with a ground out for the 1-0 lead. One inning later, Deatherage added to the Wolfpack’s lead with a two-run home run.

Austin Peay (3-2) threatened in the third when shortstop Kyle Wilson and second baseman Garrett Giovannelli hit back-to-back singles. Left fielder Cayce Bredlau followed with a line drive single to left field, but Kinneman’s throw home arrived just in time to catch Wilson and end the threat.

Robles would help his own cause in the fourth inning with a two-out solo home run to left field, cutting the deficit to 3-1. The Govs would again threaten when Gleason was hit by a pitch and sophomore catcher Alex Sala singled to right. But North Carolina State starter Sean Adler struck out the next batter to end another Govs threat.

The Wolfpack got that run back in the bottom of the fourth, Deatherage again doing the damage with a RBI double. Two innings later Kinneman supplied the Wolfpack insurance with a three-run home run and a 7-1 lead.

Both teams would add two runs in the game’s final three innings, the Govs final two runs coming courtesy Gleason’s two-run home run in the ninth.

Robles (1-1) battled through four innings, facing 22 batters and allowed four runs on eight hits. The Govs bullpen surrendered five runs (three earned) over the final four innings.

Bredlau would lead the Govs offense with a 2-for-2 outing that included a walk. However, his day was shortened when he fell rounding first base in the fifth inning. However, he left the game under his own power. Robles and Gleason’s lone hits were their home runs.

Deatherage led North Carolina State with a 4-for-4, three RBI outing that included two doubles and a home run while Kinneman was 1-for-4 with four RBI. The duo combined to drive in all of NCSU’s first seven runs. Adler (2-0) picked up the win after striking out 10 of the 23 batters he faced in 5.1 innings, allowing one run while scattering six hits.

Austin Peay and North Carolina State continue their three-game set with a 1 p.m. (CT), Saturday contest.