2008 Woodie Awards
Govs Lose Eleven Inning Pitching Duel to Vanderbilt 2-1
Marlon Scott
Issue date: 4/25/07 Section: Sports
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Fans for both teams set on the edge of their seats while cheering every strike and booing every ball as they witnessed an incredible 11 inning pitching duel that ended with a Vanderbilt 2-1 victory over the Governors.
"Vanderbilt seemed to have magic," said Austin Peay Head Coach Gary McClure. "We certainly had a great chance to win. I thought we did what we had to do to get the win and that was great pitching. We opened the door for them and they took advantage. That's why they are a great team."
Amazing, impressive, and dominating were just a few of the adjectives everyone watching the game used to describe the performance of both team's starting pitchers, Shawn Kelley and David Price.
Vanderbilt's left handed legend and SEC Pitcher of the Year, David Price, set the tone early by striking out the Govs first two batters with six pitches. Eight of his first ten pitches were strikes. In nine innings, Price held the Govs to just five hits, with two walks and 17 strike outs.
Equally astonishing, Austin Peay's superman and OVC Pitcher of the Year, Shawn Kelley, matched Price by retiring the Commodores first ten batters. Kelley pitched 10 innings without walking a single batter. He held the Commodores to five hits with nine strike outs.
After the game, Kelley described how it felt competing against Price.
"It's nice to go toe to toe with one of the best and prove that I can hang in there and compete at that level," said Kelley.
With awe inspiring pitching on both sides, the winner of the game was decided by defensive execution. Vanderbilt outfielder Dominic De la Osa made the defensive play of the game in the fourth inning.
In the top of the fourth, Gov first baseman Jake Lane hit a single up the middle that nearly took off Commodore pitcher David Price's leg. Austin Peay catcher Trey Lucas followed up with what appeared to be a long line drive into the right field gap. However, Osa sprinted and made a diving catch and then nimbly sprang to his feet and made the laser throw to first base to catch Lane who was trying to double back, converting the double play.
The Commodores scored first in the bottom of the sixth inning. First baseman Brad French led off with a single into left field. French was then moved into scoring position with a bunt by David Macias and a pop fly by Alex Feinberg. Kelley picked up the earned run when a low wild pitch bounced pass Gov catcher Matt Smith and French stole home.
Tyler Farrar kept the Govs in the game with a solo shot home run over the left field wall in the ninth inning.
"My first thought off the bat was a double off the big wall," said Farrar. "I was out the box sprinting toward first when I see our first base coach raise his fist and give a big smile."
The game continued until the bottom of the eleventh inning. The Govs were on the verge of forcing a twelfth inning after a 3-6 double play when Vanderbilt shortstop Ryan Flaherty dropped a single over the Govs shortstop into left field. Right handed pitcher David Vicini had relieved Kelley but was replaced by Ben Wilshire when he walked the batter after Flaherty.
With two outs and two runners in play, Commodore catcher Shea Robin chopped one down the middle. Wilshire got his glove on the ball, but fell down when he turned to make the throw. The winning run scored and a great baseball game ended.
It was a tough loss for the Govs and leaves them one loss away from the end of their season. After the game, Coach McClure reminded the Govs that their job was not done yet.
"As easy as it was to get up for this game, tomorrow we have to be tougher than we have ever been this whole year," explained McClure. "Our backs are against the wall. We have to be ready to play with everything we have. We don't want to leave here without a win. We want to win tomorrow and then see what we can do one game at a time."
The Govs face Memphis 2 pm Saturday at Hawkins Field.
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