MARTIN, Tenn. – (CLARKSVILLENOW) Pitcher Alex Robles hit for the cycle and right fielder Chase Hamilton’s three-run home run provided the game securing runs as Austin Peay State University’s baseball team bounced back to win a 8-5 contest against UT Martin in the second half of a doubleheader at Skyhawk Field.

Austin Peay (20-21, 11-12 OVC) entered the seventh inning holding a 5-4 lead and starting pitcher Alex Robles led off the frame with a triple that eluded the right fielder’s glove. Left fielder Cayce Bredlau walked and then caught the UT Martin defense unawares, stealing second base before the pitcher could get back on the mound. Right fielder Chase Hamilton then took the first pitch he saw and hit a long home run to right field to give the Govs an 8-4 lead.

UT Martin (19-23, 8-13 OVC) got a leadoff home run from left fielder Connor Aube in the bottom of the seventh, instilling a sense of déjà vu briefly into the proceedings. But Govs reliever Caleb Powell did not allow another ball out of the infield in the inning, holding the score at 8-5.

In the eighth, the Skyhawks led off the frame with first baseman Ryan Helgren’s double. Center fielder Creight Eldridge then reached on an infield single against Govs reliever Brett Newberg without advancing Helgren. Newberg then would induce consecutive ground outs that saw the Govs get the force out at third base before a fly out ended the threat.

Newberg would not allow any drama in the ninth, inducing a fly out and back-to-back ground outs to end the game and wrap up his season’s first save. He retired six of the seven batters he faced and allowed just one hit over the final two innings.

Govs starting pitcher Alex Robles (4-7) picked up the win after holding the Skyhawks to four runs on nine hits over six innings. Impressively, the right-hander did not allow a walk while striking out six batters.

However, Robles’ impressive day was not limited to the mound as he went 5-for-5 at the plate with two RBI. He also recorded the first cycle by a Govs hitter since 2005. Robles hit a double in the first, a
single in the fourth, added a two-run home run in the fifth in front of his seventh-inning triple. Robles would tack on an eighth-inning single for good measure.

Hamilton’s three-run home run capped a 2-for-3, four RBI outing. He also had a sacrifice fly that drove in the Govs first run in the fourth inning, was hit by a pitch in the second and singled in the sixth.
UT Martin starter Peyton Cain (1-4) was saddled with five runs on 10 hits and three walks over his six innings and too the loss.

Eldridge paced the UTM offense with a 3-for-4 outing that included a solo home run in the fourth. Helgren also went 2-for-4 with two RBI.

Austin Peay concludes its current four-game road trip with a 7 p.m., Tuesday contest at Vanderbilt.