Box Score CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – Belmont University Baseball dropped the second game of a three-game series at Austin Peay on Saturday morning. The Governors defeated Belmont 11-3 Saturday after dropping the same decision to the Bruins just hours before on Friday evening.
Behind ace pitcher Jacques Pucheu, Austin Peay got off to a good start retiring the Bruins in order in the top of the first. The Govs started its offensive momentum early, scoring four runs on four hits in the bottom of the first to take a 4-0 lead.
Freshman pitcher Joshua South (Cookeville, Tenn.) dug in and found his rhythm in the second inning, retiring APSU in order with help of a couple swinging strikeouts. South continued to impress, holding the Govs off the board in the third and fourth with the help of five more strikeouts, keeping Belmont in striking distance.
Austin Peay's bats got hot again in the bottom of the fifth, scoring three runs with the help of two homers to take a 7-0 lead. They continued to put runs on the board, scoring two more in each of the sixth and seventh innings, taking an 11-0 lead.
Belmont got on the board in the top of the eighth when freshman Tommy Crider (Cullman, Ala.) send a solo home run over the left field fence to cut the lead 11-1 after eight complete.
Junior Max Marcotte (Coventry, RI) finished his relief appearance, by efficiently retiring the Govs in order in the eighth inning.
BU's bats started to come alive in the bottom of the ninth. With one out, pinch hitter freshman John Behrends (Chattanooga, Tenn.) ripped a hit, finding himself just 90 feet from home plate with just one out. Senior Hunter Holland (Soddy Daisy, Tenn.) finished his three-for-four day at the plate with a triple, scoring Behrends to cut the lead 11-2. Holland scored the final run of the afternoon to make things 11-3 when junior Hagan Severance (Brentwood, Tenn.) sent a base hit through the left side.
Belmont remains on top of the Ohio Valley Conference table with an 8-3 conference record. Belmont and Austin Peay will meet for a decisive third game on Sunday. First pitch is slated for 1:00 p.m. CT.
