APSU Governors Baseball errors costly in 10-9 extra innings loss to Southeast Missouri Redhawks

Austin Peay Sports Information

Clarksville, TN – Austin Peay State University’s baseball team staked out an early lead only to see it undone by late defensive miscues in a 10-9, 12-inning Ohio Valley Conference loss to Southeast Missouri, Saturday afternoon.

First baseman Dre Gleason hit a leadoff home run to tie the game, 1-1. Catcher P.J. Torres, right fielder Rolando Gautier and center fielder Casey Bredlau added RBI singles to build the early advantage.

Southeast Missouri (23-11 14-3 OVC) trailed 5-4 after seven innings, but saw its cause aided by a flurry of Austin Peay miscues in the eighth and ninth innings. The Redhawks loaded the bases with no outs and tied the game on a double play.

Southeast Missouri would take its first lead after catcher Alex Burridge walked to put runners on the corners. An attempted pickoff throw by APSU sailed to the wall, allowing the go-ahead run to score.

The Redhawks’ three-run ninth inning came entirely due to Austin Peay miscues. With two outs, right fielder Dalton Hewitt was credited with a triple when the Govs outfielders lost track of his fly ball in right center.

The Govs infield defense then committed back-to-back errors, the first allowing one run to score and the second leading to runners on second and third. Center fielder Cole Bieser made the Govs pay for the errors with a two-run double, pushing the Southeast Missouri lead to 9-5.

Austin Peay showed a good dose of patience at the plate in its half of the ninth. Second baseman Garrett Copeland reached on an infield error and pinch hitter Kevin Corey followed with a single. Right fielder Rolando Gautier waited out a walk to load the bases, with no outs.

Bredlau then was hit by a pitch to push home the inning’s first run. Designated hitter Alex Robles added a run with a single, keeping the bases loaded. Then with two outs, shortstop Logan Gray and catcher P.J. Torres each earned walks – the latter tying the game, 9-9. Austin Peay could not keep the rally alive as Copeland flew out to center field to end the inning.

Austin Peay reliever Ryan Quick set the tone in the extra frames. He entered the game in the 10th and struck out the only batter he faced to end the inning. He then came to the plate in the bottom of the 10th and notched his first career base hit, but the Govs failed to score. Quick then set the side down in order in the 11th and struck out the first batter he faced in the 12th.

Southeast Missouri finally broke Quick’s momentum when second baseman Jason Blum was hit by a pitch. He was moved to second on a sacrifice bunt and the move paid off as first baseman Matt Tellor doubled through the right side to break the tie.

Redhawks reliever Greg Mosel (2-2) stymied the Govs in extra innings, tossing three scoreless frames and allowing just two hits to pick up the win.

Quick (2-3) was tagged for the loss after allowing one run in 2.1 innings, striking out four.

Austin Peay rapped out 15 hits, but has just one extra-base hit – Gleason’s home run. Bredlau led the Govs offense with a 2-for-5, three RBI outing. He was part of a top four in the order that had nine of Austin Peay’s hits.

Tellor and third baseman Andy Lennington each had three hits to pace Southeast Missouri’s 11-hit attack.

With the series tied 1-1, Austin Peay and Southeast Missouri return to the field for the final game of their three-game OVC set with a 1:00pm, Sunday contest.

Box Score

Score by Innings                        R  H  E
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Southeast Missouri.. 011 020 023 001 - 10 11  1
Austin Peay......... 040 100 004 000 -  9 15  5
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