CLARKSVILLE, TN - Austin Peay RHP Alex Robles (1-0) scattered four hits in 7.0 strong innings and third baseman Logan Gray reached base four times, leading the host Governors (1-0) to a 7-1 win against Bradley (0-1) in the college baseball season-opener for both teams Friday afternoon at Raymond C. Hand Park.

Bradley wasted little time getting on the board, plating its lone run in the first inning. Third baseman Spencer Gaa was hit by a pitch and SS Tyler Leffler followed with a double into the left field corner, before Robles uncorked a wild pitch to score Gaa. But after issing a walk to cleanup hitter Paul Solka, Robles got out of the jam by inducing a double play ground out from C Ian Kristan.

The Governors answered with Gray's 2-out home run in the bottom of the first, then took control with a 4-run outburst in the third inning. After freshman DH Jean-Francois Garon dropped a single to right field in his first career at-bat with one out in the second inning, the Braves did not get another base runner until Gaa singled up the middle with one out in the sixth inning. Junior LF Evan Gruener ended the day 2-for-4 with a double to lead Bradley's 6-hit effort.

Junior RHP Matt Dennis (0-1) is making the transition from All-American closer to Bradley's No. 1 starting pitcher, but he struggled in the opener Friday. Although Dennis struck out seven in 4.0 innings, he allowed five runs on six hits and four walks in 4.0 innings. Freshman LHP Ben Olson retired the side in order in the fifth, but gave up two runs, one earned, on two hits and a walk in the sixth inning. On a positve note from the mound, fourth-year junior RHP Eric Scheuermann made his first appearance since the 2014 season and got the finaly seven outs, tossing 1.2 scoreless innings, allowing only one hit.

With runners at the corners and no outs in the third inning, Gray put Austin Peay ahead for good with a ground ball that was ruled a base hit. Second baseman Allan Beer fielded the ball moving toward first base, but instead threw wide to second base while falling back toward the RF line. Garret Copeland, who doubled to open the frame, scored on the play and Austin Peay added three more runs in the inning on Cayce Bredlau's RBI double, a Robles sacrifice fly and a Dre Gleason run-scoring single.

The teams will continue their opening weekend series with 1 p.m. games Saturday and Sunday at Raymond C. Hand Park. Bradley is expected to start fifth-year senior LHP Cameron Roegner on the mound Saturday, followed by senior LHP Brent Stong Sunday.