CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – (ESPN CLARKSVILLE) Center fielder Nick Walker hit a pair of home runs but it wasn’t enough as Austin Peay State University’s baseball team dropped a 16-7 home-opening decision to Southern Illinois, Tuesday night at Raymond C. Hand Park.
On a blustry day, Austin Peay (3-1) posted its first three home runs of the season. Walker hit solo home runs on consecutive at-bats, leading off the fourth with a homer before adding a one-out shot in the sixth. Second baseman Garrett Giovannelli also had a two-run home run in the third.
Southern Illinois (1-3) hit two home runs in the contest, including left fielder Alex Lyon’s fourth-inning grand slam, to take a 5-0 lead after three innings. However, it was the Salukis patience in a pivotal seventh inning that proved decisive as they waited out six walks as part of a six-run frame that broke the game open.
Austin Peay starting pitcher Tyler Thompson (0-1) suffered the loss after allowing five runs on five hits and three walks in three innings. Walker, Giovannelli and shortstop Garrett Kueber each had two hits and two RBI for the Govs offense, Kueber tacking on a two-run double in the seventh inning.
SIU starter Bradley Harrison (1-0) picked up the win after holding the Govs to three runs on four hits over five innings. Lyon went 4-for-4 with five RBI to pace the Southern Illinois offense, which saw the top four hitters in the lineup combine for 13 RBI.
Austin Peay is scheduled to continue its four-game homestand when it opens a three-game series against Toledo with a 3 p.m., Friday contest at Raymond C. Hand Park. The opener will see senior left-hander Michael Costanzo (0-0, 0.00 ERA) take the bump for Austin Peay seeking to build on five innings without an earned run in his debut against South Dakota State.
Single-game, flex, season and boxLife Suite tickets for Austin Peay baseball are available by calling the Governors Athletics Ticket office at 931-221-PEAY [7329] or online at LetsGoPeay.com/SportTix