» By DANIEL NEWTON – dnewton7@my.apsu.edu
The APSU Bat Govs had a week consisting of average play, a late-tragic meltdown and then took out their anger from the meltdown the next day in dramatic fashion.
All of these differences in play culminated in the Bat Govs going 2-2 this week, losing to MTSU on Wednesday, April 16, 10-7, and then taking two of three at Eastern Kentucky on Friday, April 20, through Sunday, April 22.
Playing against the Blue Raiders, the Govs were unable to hold to the early five run lead they acquired in the first inning.
The Blue Raiders scored a total of six runs between the third and fifth innings, and the Bat Govs were unable to score again until the eighth inning, but it was too little too late.
On Friday, the Bat Govs started their series with Eastern Kentucky by hanging on to a close game, 10-9.
Trailing 6-3 after five innings, the Bat Govs were able to string together six runs in the sixth inning and added another insurance run in the eighth.
The team would need every run as junior Tyler Rogers came into save the game in the night, allowed a few base runners, and then getting a bases loaded double-play to end the game, as the Bat Govs narrowly escaped with a victory.
Saturday’s game would not prove to be so lucky. Senior starter Zack Toney surrendered only two hits and one earned run through six innings of work, but the Bat Govs let the game slip away late.
A passed ball and four errors, the bulk of which coming in the final four innings, allowed for Eastern Kentucky to score six of their seven runs.
The Bat Govs surrendered three runs in the bottom of the ninth to give Eastern Kentucky a heart-breaking walk-off victory.
On Sunday, the Bat Govs had some pent-up anger to let loose, and Eastern Kentucky was the team unfortunate enough to be in the way as APSU would coast to victory, 18-2.
The team scored 11 runs within the first four innings and never looked back, recording a season-high 18 hits in the process.
Junior starter Casey Delgado had a great game, tossing the first complete game for the Bat Govs since 2008.
Delgado finished nine innings, surrendering just two runs on eight hits while recording seven strike-outs.
The week brought APSU’s overall record to 24-15 and 11-3 in Ohio Valley Conference play.
The Bat Govs will look to improve their record when they travel to Bowling Green, Ky. on Wednesday, April 25, to play Western Kentucky before hosting Jacksonville State at home on Friday, April 27, through Sunday, April 29, at Raymond C. Hand Park. TAS
