By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information

CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Tech baseball team couldn't overcome a hot start from in-state rival Austin Peay Saturday afternoon, dropping its first Ohio Valley Conference series since 2017 after falling to the Governors in Clarksville, 10-4.

The Golden Eagle bats struggled to get much going early on in the contest, as the Austin Peay pitching staff held the purple and gold off the score board for the first seven frames.

The Gov bats took advantage of the situation, plating runs in each of the first five innings to jump out to a 10-0 lead. A three-run home run in the first kicked off the action, forcing Tech into comeback mode early.

Tech, which fell in the series opener 6-0, broke through for its first run in the series in the top of the eighth, loading the bases with two outs. Freshman Jason Hogan provided the first Golden Eagle marker of the weekend, scoring on a passed ball.

Following a walk to fellow freshman John Dyer, which loaded the bases again, junior Gavin Johns provided the biggest hit of the game for the Golden Eagles, a two-run single through the left side.

In the ninth, Tech scored again on a miscue by the Governors. Freshman catcher Jack Schad drew a seven-pitch walk to leadoff the frame, eventually coming home on a wild pitch later in the inning.

Senior hurler Alex Hursey tied a Tech career-high with eight punch outs in the contest, covering four innings while allowing one earned run. Fellow senior Ty King recorded a scoreless frame in the contest, striking out one.

The series finale between the Golden Eagles and Govs is set for a 1:00 p.m. CT start Sunday afternoon at Raymond C. Hand Park.

Photo by Tony Marable