CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – (ESPN Clarksville) For the third-straight game, Austin Peay State University’s baseball team got another quality outing from a starting pitcher – this time Brandon Vial supplying six scoreless frames in an 8-1 Ohio Valley Conference victory against Tennessee Tech, Sunday afternoon.

With the win, Austin Peay (8-9, 4-2 OVC) swept the three-game OVC set against Tennessee Tech (10-9, 2-4 OVC). The Governors end the week tied for second in the league race.
Tennessee Tech had an opportunity to grab its first lead of the series in the top of the first, loading the bases with two out against Vial. But the Governors starter shut the door quickly, striking out the next batter he faced to end the threat.

Austin Peay put the Golden Eagles behind on the scoreboard in their half of the first. Third baseman Gino Avros doubled to start the frame, advanced on a ground out and scored on first baseman Parker Phillips’ sacrifice fly.

Vial (1-2) would back up that run by retiring the next seven batters he faced as he held Tennessee Tech scoreless through the fourth. The Golden Eagles would try to produce a run in the fifth but saw a runner cut down at home on a perfect relay play from left to deny the run.

The Govs would add to their lead in the fourth as the first five batters of the frame reached base safely. Catcher David Martinez and left fielder Malcolm Tipler drove in runs with a single and a bases-loaded walk, respectively, to extend the lead to 3-0.

Austin Peay doubled that advantage with a three-run fifth – two runs coming on center fielder Garrett Spain’s single – and tacked on single runs in the sixth and seventh innings to build an 8-0 advantage.

Vial’s outing was his longest scoreless-inning effort since his first appearance as a Governor last season. He struck out a career-high nine batters while scattering six hits and allowing only two walks. Closer Brett Newberg would allow a run in the ninth inning but picked up the three-inning save.

The Govs posted 10 hits in the win with shortstop Garrett Kueber’s 2-for-4, one RBI outing the only multi-hit effort. Tipler finished the day 1-for-2 with two RBI.

Tennessee Tech starter Jacob Cole (1-1) suffered the loss after allowing three runs on three hits and three walks in three-plus innings. Shortstop Zell Walker’s ninth-inning single provided the Golden Eagles their only run of the day.

Austin Peay begins a four-game road trip with a 6 p.m., Tuesday nonconference contest at Western Kentucky (9-9). The Govs then stay on the road for a three-game OVC set at Southeast Missouri (11-9, 2-4 OVC).