Box Score EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. – Austin Peay scored twice in the top of the 10th inning Thursday night to defeat SIUE 6-4 in the first of a three-game Ohio Valley Conference baseball series at Simmons Complex.
P.J. Torres walked to start the 10th inning for Austin Peay (23-32, 14-14) and then moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Kevin Corey. SIUE reliever P.J. Schuster struck out Logan Gray for the second out in the inning. Garret Copeland followed with a two-out, RBI single to score Torres. Copeland scored on an RBI double by Cayce Bredlau for the 6-4 score.
Schuster (2-5) pitched 3 2/3 innings in relief. He allowed just the two runs on two hits. He walked three and struck out six, tying his career high.
Brian Sipe led off the bottom of the inning with a single off the side of the mound bringing the top of the order to the plate for SIUE (19-31, 14-14). The Cougars were unable to push a run across. Sipe was the only Cougar player with multiple hits. He was 2 for 4.
"We had the guys we wanted up for sure," SIUE Head Coach Tony Stoecklin said. "It just didn't happen for us."
Stoecklin cited the fact the Govs committed five errors and said that the Cougars missed other scoring opportunities during the night.
"We passed on multiple opportunities on offense," Stoecklin said. "Any time the other team has five errors you should win the game. End of story."
The Cougars scored twice in the bottom of the eighth inning to tie the game 4-4. Jacob Stewart and Nick Lombardo each had RBIs in the inning.
Austin Peay chased Cougar starter Jarrett Bednar with a three-run seventh inning to take the 4-2 lead. Bednar allowed four runs, three earned, on seven hits. He struck out two and did not walk a batter.
The Cougars took a 1-0 lead on a two-out, RBI single by Devin Caldwell in the first inning.
Torres tied the game for the Govs in the second inning with an RBI groundout. He finished the night 1 for 3 with a pair of RBIs.
Both teams managed nine hits on the night.
Ausin Peay used six pitchers in the game. Alex Robles started and allowed two runs on seven hits. Ryan Quick (3-6) earned the win in relief. He threw 1 2/3 scoreless innings. Zach Walton pitched the 10th inning, allowing just the hit from Green, for his first save of the year.
The series continues with a 6 p.m. game Friday. Ryan Daniels will make the start for SIUE.
"We've played well behind (Ryan) all year," Stoecklin added. "I know he will go out and compete and give us a chance to win."
