THE LEAD
CLARKSVILLE – Sophomore left hander Michael Costanzo allowed just one hit and struck out 10 and Austin Peay State University's baseball team downed Alcorn State, 12-0, in the Riverview Inn Governors Challenge, Friday afternoon.
THE GOVERNING MOMENTS
Costanzo faced just two batters over the minimum in his seven-inning outing. He allowed a leadoff double in the third and walked a batter in the seventh.
While Costanzo kept Alcorn State at bay, Austin Peay needed four innings to solve ASU starter Gorge Helbig and eventually broke through in the fifth with two-out RBI from third baseman Logan Gray and left fielder Cayce Bredlau. Those two runs started a 12-run rally that lasted over the Govs final four innings.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
Garrett Copeland started and reached base safely with a fifth-inning single, extending his streaks to 112 consecutive games played and 37 games reaching base safely. He was pinch hit for in the seventh inning, ending a streak of 355 consecutive innings played. Copeland last left a game early on March 17, 2015.
Ridge Smith's home run in the seventh inning was his first since March 29, 2015 (vs. Tennessee Tech). It ended a 137 at-bat stretch without a home run for the junior utility man who started in right field and ended the game at third base.
Entering the weekend ranked 15th nationally with 3.25 doubles per game, Austin Peay posted four doubles against Alcorn State. The Govs also tacked on a home run, giving them a home run in all five games this season.
THE FULL RECAP
A week after taking a no-hitter into the seventh inning, Costanzo (2-0) got off to a quick start against Alcorn State, retiring the first six batters he faced. The Chicago native would surrender a leadoff double in the third, but left that runner stranded at third base after inducing a shallow fly out and a strike out.
From there, Costanzo got in a groove and retired 12 consecutive batters. He issued a two-out walk in the seventh but struck out the next batter he faced to end his outing.
Meanwhile Austin Peay's (4-1) offense needed time to solve Alcorn State starter George Helbig. The Govs were held scoreless over the first four innings, leaving runners in scoring position in both the second and fourth frames.
But Austin Peay solved the Helbig riddle in the fifth, striking for a pair of two-out runs. Second baseman Garrett Copeland singled with one out and scored on third baseman Logan Gray's two-out double. Left fielder Cayce Bredlau then drove in Gray with a RBI single to put APSU ahead 2-0 after five innings.
The Govs would add two runs in the sixth before tacking on four runs in both the seventh and eighth innings. Right fielder Ridge Smith had the game's biggest hit with a three-run home run to left center in the seventh that put APSU ahead 8-0.
Costanzo (2-0) struck out a career-high 10 batters over seven innings, allowing one hit and one walk. CJ Burrow and Shane Lantigua retired the side in order in the eighth and ninth innings, respectively.
Smith was one of five APSU hitters to finish with two hits, ending the day 2-for-3 with four RBI. First baseman Dre Gleason added a 2-for-4, two RBI outing. Eight Govs finished the game with at least one RBI.
Alcorn State (1-5) got its lone hit from designated hitter Ashton Lewis, who was 1-for-3. Helbig (0-2) suffered the loss after allowing two runs on three hits in 4.2 innings, striking out five.
The Riverview Inn Governors Challenge continues Saturday with Alcorn State facing No. 12 Missouri State in an 11:30 a.m. contest. Austin Peay will meet UConn in a 3:30 p.m. meeting between the two Day 1 winners – UConn defeating Missouri State, 12-4, in the tourney opener.
