Breds Squander Chances in Extra-Inning Defeat

Thursday, March 28

Murray, Ky.

3 p.m.

Murray State

12-13, 6-4

Austin Peay

20-5, 5-1

Austin Peay

Murray State

Photo by: Ricky Martin/Ledger & Times

3/28/2013 7:00:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

Austin Peay centerfielder Dylan Riner delivered a line drive sacrifice fly to center field in the top of the 12th inning to give the Governors a 4-3 victory over Murray State in the first game of a three-game series Thursday afternoon at Johnny Reagan Field.

P.J. Torres started the inning with a single to center field. After an unsuccessful sacrifice bunt attempt, Rolando Gautier put runners on the corners with one out. Riiner followed with the line drive to center field, where Taylor Mathews came up firing, only to have the ball get away from the catcher and allow the run to score.

MSU was not without their chances to win the game. They started the ninth inning with back-to-back singles from Mike Kozlowski and Dylan Wheeler to put runners on the corners, but failed to score. In the 10th, they loaded the bases with two outs, and Wheeler's line drive to left center was tracked down by the left fielder to end the inning.

The Breds (12-13, 6-4 OVC) struck first in the second inning with Kozlowski delivering a leadoff single up the middle. A pair of groundouts moved Kozlowski to third with two outs, before Brandon Elliott delivered a two-run home run just inside the left-field foul pole for his first home run of the season.

The Govs (20-5, 5-1 OVC) got a run back in the sixth inning as Jordan Hankins started the inning with a one-out single through the left side and took second on a wild pitch. With two outs, Cody Hudson delivered an RBI single through the right side to score Hankins from second.

MSU got the run right back in the home-half of the inning as Ty Stetson reached second on an error by the third baseman, and later came around to score on a Kozlowski single back through the middle.

APSU got the equalize in the top of the eighth as a leadoff walk came around to score on two-run home run to left center from Craig Massoni.

Cameron Finch had his second-straight strong outing, but did not factor into the decision. Finch allowed just one run on four hits and four strikeouts over six innings. The run allowed in the sixth inning put an end to a streak of 16-straight innings without allowing a run.

APSU starter Lee Ridenhour was just as effective as he allowed three runs and fanned nine over nine innings.

Brock Downey (0-1) was saddled with the loss after allowing one run on three hits and two strikeouts over four innings. Tyler Rogers (5-0) earned the victory after throwing 2.2 shutout innings, allowing one hit, walking two and hitting a batter.

Kozlowski paced the offense by going 3-for-5 with an RBI and a run scored.

The two teams are scheduled to play the middle game of the series Friday afternoon at 3 p.m.