APSU Sports Information
Clarksville, TN – Center fielder Imani Willis‘ walk-off single helped Austin Peay State University’s baseball team complete a three-game sweep of Toledo with an 8-7 victory in 10 innings, Sunday afternoon at Raymond C. Hand Park.
Austin Peay (6-1) held a 7-6 lead after the sixth inning and both bullpens made that score stand until the ninth inning.
In the top of the ninth, Toledo tied the game with left fielder John Servello’s two-out home run. The Rockets would threaten to take the lead in the inning, but Govs reliever Harley Gollert induced a lineout to end the threat.
Gollert (1-0) would work around a one-out walk in the 10th to hold the score at 7-7. Austin Peay would open its half of the 10th with third baseman Malcolm Tipler‘s single and moved him into scoring position with pinch hitter David Martinez‘ sacrifice bunt. With two outs, Willis would work the count to 2-1 before driving the ball through the left side of the infield and Tipler scampered home with the winning run.
Willis finished the day going 2-for-4 with a RBI and posted seven RBI in the three-game set. Shortstop Garrett Kueber led off the game with his first collegiate home run as part of a 3-for-5 outing. Third baseman Bobby Head had a two-run single in the fourth as part of his 2-for-4 day.
Gollert picked up his first collegiate win after tossing 1.1 scoreless innings of relief, striking out a batter. Reliever Brett Newberg was left with no decision despite holding Toledo to two runs on four hits while striking out six over five innings.
Third baseman Brad Boss had a solo home run and RBI single as part of his 2-for-4, two RBI performance. Catcher Michael Ryan and Servello – batting eighth and ninth in the Toledo batting order, respectively – each had two RBI.
Toledo reliever Luke Schaefer (0-2) was tagged for the loss after allowing the winning run in his only inning of work that saw him retire only two batters.
Scoring Summary
Shortstop Garrett Kueber opened the day’s scoring with a leadoff home run in the bottom of the first – his first Austin Peay home run. The Governors would tack on a second run when left fielder Nick Walker doubled and then scored on first baseman Andrew Flaherty‘s single.
Toledo scored the game’s next five runs. Third baseman Brad Boss’ solo home run in the second got the Rockets on the board. Two innings later he had a RBI single as part of a four-run outburst that gave Toledo a 5-2 lead.
The Governors responded immediately with a four-run fourth inning of their own. Third baseman Bobby Head‘s two-run single started the rally with Kueber and second baseman Garrett Giovannelli each supplying an RBI that helped take a 6-5 lead.
Each team scored a run in the sixth before the bullpens quieted the offenses. Catcher Michael Ryan’s RBI single helped the Rockets tie the game. However, Kueber doubled and scored after a wild pitch and a passed ball to restore the Govs one-run lead.
Who Governed: Imani Willis
It was a big weekend for Willis, who went 4-for-7 with a grand slam and seven RBI in the three-game set. He capped his stellar weekend with the walk-off single. Willis finished the game 2-for-4 with a RBI and a walk.
Govs Notably
Kueber Keeps Slugging
Shortstop Garrett Kueber also enjoyed a big series against the Rockets, hitting for the weekend cycle and going 6-for-11 at the plate. He had a double and home run in Sunday’s finale after a triple in the series opener. Kueber’s 11 hits this season includes seven extra base hits and he leads the team with 10 RBI.
It was another patient weekend for the Govs batters, who racked up 21 walks, including six in the finale. Nick Walker and Garrett Giovannelli each had four walks in the series. Austin Peay has recorded at least five walks in all seven games this season.
Another 30-K Weekend
Austin Peay’s pitching continued to churn out strikeouts, recording 30 against the Rockets. It was the second straight weekend the Governors hurlers notched 30 strikeouts. Through seven games, Austin Peay has 65 strikeouts in 64 innings pitched.
Next Up for APSU Baseball
Austin Peay will play its first official road game of 2018 when it travels to Music City for a 4:00pm, Tuesday contest against nationally-ranked Vanderbilt. The Commodores are riding a six-game win streak after sweeping their three-game series against UMass-Lowell. Both APSU and Vanderbilr will enter the midweek contest with one loss this season.
