CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. -- The Indiana State baseball team opened up its 2003 season with a 2-1 loss at the hands of Austin Peay on Friday afternoon. The host Governors (5-0) overcame a sparkling performance by Sycamore starter Matt Samuels to pick up the win. WIth the game tied at one and the bases load in the bottom of the ninth, Austin Peay scored the winning run on a James Ray fielder's choice off ISU reliever Joe Thatcher, plating pinch-runner Brett Luther.
The Governors started the bottom of the ninth with an A.J. Ellis single through the right side off Thatcher. Next, a questionable balk was called on the left-hander, advancing Ellis to second. Following the balk, Luther pinch ran for Ellis; meanwhile, Thatcher responded by striking out Chris Hyde to record the first out of the inning. Tommy Smith, a pinch-hitter, reached on an intentional walk and Matthew Ledbetter was hit by a pitch to load the bases for Ray. The Governor second baseman, Ray, hit a groundball to Josh Prickett, who attempted to turn a 6-4-3 doubleplay; however, Ray beat out the throw scoring the winning run.
Samuels, the Sycamores' opening-day starter, allowed only five hits, struck out eight on 96 pitches in seven innings of work. The Governors jumped out to a 1-0 advantage in the bottom of the first on a solo homerun by rightfielder Ron Bethke - his third in five Governor games.
The Sycamores knotted the score at 1 in the top of the eighth. Senior catcher Ben Vannatter was hit by a Scott Steinbrecher pitch to start the inning. Next, senior Jordan Bichanich sacrificed pinch-runner Michael Huven to second. With one out, junior Michael Miller was intentionally walked, bringing to the plate junior Barry Warn. The Governors' responded by bringing in Jeff Mault. Both Miller and Huven moved up to second and third, respectively on a Mault wild pitch. Warn hit a routine grounder to Matthew Ledbetter, who booted the ball enabling Huven to score and advancing Miller to third. An Egli groundout prevented the Sycamores from adding any further runs.
The Indiana State offense was limited to just four hits on the day, two from senior outfielder Kevin Egli in the defeat. The Governor bullpen held the Sycamores without a hit in three innings of work.
Thatcher (0-1) was the loser for Indiana State and Jeff Mault (1-0) picked up the win for Austin Peay.
Next, ISU will stay in Tennessee on Saturday and Sunday to face IPFW and Miami of Ohio. Those two games will take place at Cumberland University in Lebanon, Tenn. The Sycamores will battle the IPFW Mastadons on Saturday at 10:30 a.m. and play Miami of Ohio on Sunday at 10:30 a.m.