University of Tennessee Athletics
University of Tennessee
Austin Peay
Vols Drop 5-3 Decision to Austin Peay
February 24, 2009 | Baseball
Feb. 24, 2009
The winless Austin Peay Governors came into Knoxville Tuesday afternoon and defeated the Tennessee Volunteers 5-3 at Robert M. Lindsay Field at Lindsey Nelson Stadium in the Vols first midweek game of the season. The loss dropped the Vols record to 1-2 while giving the Governors their first victory of the season.
Five Austin Peay pitchers, who entered today's game with a team ERA of 7.50, limited the Vol offense to runs in only one frame, three in the fifth. The Vols had eight hits but left 13 runners on base.
APSU reliever Dylan Ray earned his first victory of the season, pitching one inning, allowing three unearned runs on two hits. Tennessee freshman Steven Gruver took his first loss of the season after he pitched 1-2/3 innings out of the bullpen, allowing two runs on one hits while striking out four and issuing one walk.
Austin Peay scored the go-ahead, and eventual game winning, runs in the top of the sixth inning when right fielder Daniel Baggett hit a three-run home run over the wall in left-center field. Shortstop Greg Bachman led off the inning with a double, first basemen Matt Kole then reached on a walk issued by Gruver. Gruver then struck out back-to-back batters before being replaced by senior right-hander Ty'Relle Harris. Harris worked Baggett to a full count before Baggett's first home run of the season put the Governors in front 5-3.
Tennessee took its only lead of the game in the bottom of the fifth inning with three runs off Ray. With one out, right fielder Josh Liles singled to centerfield followed by a walk to center fielder Kentrail Davis. Cody Hawn then reached based on an error by the left fielder, to load the bases.
Then, with two outs, designated hitter Jeff Lockwood walked to drive in Liles from third, making the score 2-1. Catcher Blake Forsythe then delivered the big hit of the inning, a two-run double down the left field line. Davis and Hawn both crossed the plate to give UT a 3-2 lead.
The Governors got the scoring started early when they put up two runs in the top of the first inning to take a 2-0 lead. Center fielder Jared Delong led off the game with a single to left field and then continued to second on an error. After advancing to third on a groundout, Delong was driven in by a single off the bat of Bauchman. Kole then doubled to the wall in centerfield, sending Bauchman home from first.
Volunteer starter Stephen McCray went four innings, allowing two runs on five hits while striking out five and walking only one. Governor's starter Ricky Marshall also pitched four innings, shutting out the Vols on four hits. Marshall walked three and struck out one.
Harris worked 2-1/3 innings, giving up one run on two hits. Lockwood, in his first pitching appearance of the season, came into work the top of the ninth inning and retired the side in order.
Tennessee now leads the all-time series with Austin Peay 16-3.
Tennessee now travel to Myrtle Beach, S.C. for the Baseball at the Beach Tournament, Friday through Sunday, where they will face West Virginia, Coastal Carolina and Florida International. Friday and Saturday's games will take place at BB&T Coastal Field, the home of the Myrtle Beach Pelicans; while Sunday's game will be played at Watson Stadium, Costal Carolina's home field.
