CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. (ESPN CLARKSVILLE) – Junior starter Josh Rye took a no-hitter into the sixth inning and Austin Peay State University’s baseball team notched a come-from-behind 3-1 Ohio Valley Conference victory against Morehead State, Friday afternoon at Raymond C. Hand Park.

The opener turned into a bona fide pitcher’s duel through six innings as Rye and Morehead State starter Aaron Leasher put plenty of zeroes on the board. Rye held the advantage in the duel as he kept the Eagles hitless through 5.1 innings.

Morehead State (26-12, 11-5 OVC) broke up Rye’s no-hit bid with shortstop Reid Leonard’s one-out double down the left field line. The Eagles would add a two-out walk to put runners on the corners, but Rye turned the ball over to reliever Zach Neff, who responded with his seventh strikeout to keep the game scoreless.

The Eagles posted the game’s first run in the seventh when designated hitter Michael Patrick rifled a 2-1 pitch over the wall in left for a solo home run and the 1-0 lead.

Austin Peay (18-18, 9-10 OVC) wasted no time erasing the lead when designated hitter Brett Newberg took a 1-0 pitch over the wall in left center for a leadoff home run. The Govs kept the offense churning as right fielder Chase Hamilton walked after the home run followed by back-to-back two-out doubles from second baseman Garrett Giovannelli and left fielder Malcolm Tipler that extended the lead to 3-1.

Junior lefty Zach Neff (1-1) closed out the seventh for Rye and stayed on board to toss two more scoreless frames to pick up the win. He would work around a Govs defensive miscue in the eighth to strand two runners in scoring position. The Eagles threatened again in the ninth with a pair of base hits, but Neff induced an inning-ending ground out to finish the game.

Rye was left with no decision despite limiting Morehead State to one run on three hits over his 6.2 innings. He struck out a career-high seven of the 26 batters he faced.

Giovannelli extended his hit streak to eight games with a 2-for-4 effort that included his double. Hamilton also had a 2-for-3 outing as the Govs finished with seven hits.

Leasher (6-2) was the Eagles hard-luck loser after holding the Govs to three runs on six hits over his 6.2 frames. Patrick had the lone RBI in his 1-for-4 effort as Morehead State was held to five hits.

Austin Peay and Morehead State will play Game 2 of the series Friday night at Raymond C. Hand Park.