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CHARLESTON, Ill. – Austin Peay took game two of the weekend Ohio Valley Conference baseball series, 5-2, over Eastern Illinois on Saturday afternoon at Coaches Stadium. The series finale start time has been changed to noon on Sunday, March 17.
 
The Governors (17-2, 2-0 OVC) took an early 2-0 lead in the first inning, scoring two runs on two hits. Brant Valach hit a solo home run in the following inning to cut the Panthers (3-14, 0-5 OVC) deficit to one (2-1).
 
Austin Peay added three unanswered runs to take a 5-1 advantage, scoring two runs in the fifth inning and one in the sixth inning. Treysen Vavra hit a solo home run in the bottom of the sixth to make the score 5-2, but the Panther comeback fell short as they dropped their ninth consecutive game.
 
Austin Peay had two more hits (8-6) than EIU and committed two more errors (2-0). Both squads left nine runners on base in the contest.
 
“We left a lot of guys on base this afternoon,” said Eastern Illinois head coach Jim Schmitz. “We battled for all nine innings, but we didn't get the big hits we needed to drive in our base runners.”
 
Joe Greenfield (1-2) took the loss for EIU as the junior pitcher allowed five runs and eight hits in seven innings of work. The Orland Park, Ill., native also had four strikeouts. Vavra led the Panthers at the plate, going 2-for-3 with a run and an RBI.
 
“I thought Joe (Greenfield) did really well today as did Luke (Bushur) in relief,” Schmitz added.
 
Casey Delgado (3-1) earned the win for the Governors, striking out four and allowing three hits and two runs in six innings of action. Tyler Rogers posted his eighth save of the year, retiring all three batters he faced in the ninth inning.
 
Craig Massoni led Austin Peay's offense, going 3-for-5 with a run while Jordan Hankins added two runs.