APSU Baseball Falls 13-12 to North Alabama Despite Ninth-Inning Rally

Governors rally for five runs in the ninth but come up short against the Lions

Apr. 12, 2026 at 2:20am

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a fragmented baseball game, with players, field, and stadium broken down into overlapping planes of color and abstract shapes, conveying the intensity and drama of the game's final innings.The dramatic ninth-inning comeback attempt by the APSU Governors is captured in a cubist, deconstructed illustration that captures the energy and tension of the game's final moments.Clarksville Today

The Austin Peay State University (APSU) baseball team dropped game two of its weekend series against North Alabama, despite rallying for five runs in the ninth inning, as they fell in a one-run decision, 13-12, Saturday, at Joe Maynard Field at Raymond C. Hand Park in Clarksville, Tennessee.

Why it matters

This loss is a setback for the APSU Governors as they look to build momentum in their conference play. The ninth-inning rally showed the team's resilience, but ultimately they came up short against a tough North Alabama squad.

The details

APSU got ahead early with a two-run homer from redshirt junior Ray Velazquez in the first inning, but North Alabama responded with three solo home runs to take the lead. The Governors tied the game in the fifth on a three-run shot from junior Kyler Proctor, but the Lions pulled away with seven runs over the next three innings to go up 13-6 going into the ninth. That's when APSU mounted a furious comeback, scoring five runs with two outs, but they ultimately fell one run short.

  • The game was played on Saturday, April 12, 2026.
  • APSU took an early 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning.
  • North Alabama scored three solo home runs in the second and third innings to take the lead.
  • The Governors tied the game 6-6 in the bottom of the fifth inning.
  • North Alabama scored seven runs over the next three innings to go up 13-6 heading into the ninth.
  • APSU scored five runs in the bottom of the ninth inning but fell short 13-12.

The players

Ray Velazquez

A redshirt junior on the APSU baseball team who hit a two-run home run in the first inning.

Cole Johnson

A redshirt sophomore on the APSU baseball team who delivered an RBI single in the game.

Kyler Proctor

A junior on the APSU baseball team who hit a three-run home run to tie the game in the fifth inning.

Houston Hebert

A freshman on the APSU baseball team who hit a three-run home run in the ninth inning to spark the comeback.

Andres Matias

A graduate student on the APSU baseball team who hit a double in the ninth inning to drive in two runs and bring the Governors within one run.

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What they’re saying

“This loss is a tough one, but I'm proud of the way our guys fought back in the ninth inning. We showed a lot of heart and resilience, but ultimately came up just short. We'll learn from this experience and come back stronger tomorrow.”

— Travis Janssen, APSU Baseball Head Coach

What’s next

The Austin Peay State University baseball team will look to bounce back on Sunday, April 13, 2026 when they conclude their weekend series against North Alabama with the final game starting at 1:00pm at Joe Maynard Field at Raymond C. Hand Park in Clarksville, Tennessee.

The takeaway

Despite the tough loss, the APSU Governors showed their fighting spirit by mounting a dramatic ninth-inning comeback. This resilience will be crucial as they look to rebound and finish the series strong against North Alabama on Sunday.