After sweeping the Thoroughbreds of Murray State over the weekend, APSU returned home to Raymond C. Hand Park to play host to the Lipscomb Bisons on Tuesday, April 2 in a non-conference match-up.
Starting on the mound for the Govs was Zach Hall, who improved his record to 3-1 on the year. Jacob Knott was given the loss for the Bisons.
Both teams were scoreless through three innings, but in the fourth, Lipscomb got on the board with a RBI double by Noah Chandler, scoring Zach Lowery, then was brought home with a triple by Tyson Ashcraft.
But Rolando Gautier put the Govs on top in the bottom of the inning, hitting his first home run of the season, a three-run shot, making it 3-2.
Even with a two for three day at the plate, Gautier admits that the team overall has much to improve on with conference-leading Tennessee Tech coming to town this weekend.
“We didn’t play a solid game, but coach got into us about it,” Gautier said after the game. “I think the most important thing is we have to play an all-around game when it comes to conference time. We have to pitch, we have to field, and we have to hit.”
Hall, along with Casey Delgado who entered the game in the seventh inning, held Lipscomb scoreless to give the offense another opportunity to strike.
The Govs loaded the bases in the bottom of the seventh, which gave first basemen Craig Massoni a chance to deliver his team-leading 28th RBI of the season. Austin Peay added two extra insurance runs, with Dylan Riner scoring on a wild pitch and Jordan Hankins crossing the plate off a fielding error.
The Bisons closed the deficit to two runs with a two RBI single by Ashcraft in the eighth, with Austin Peay still on top 6-4.
Austin Peay’s bullpen continued to impress late in the game, with Kacy Kemmer and Hunter Lindley setting up closer Tyler Rogers in the ninth to earn his eleventh save of the season.
The Govs will travel to Western Kentucky Wednesday, April 3 to take on the Hilltoppers before returning home for a three-game OVC series against Tennessee Tech April 5-7.
