AP Sports Preview: Austin Peay at North Alabama

FLORENCE, Ala. (Interstat) — The Austin Peay Governors (24-27) visit the North Alabama Lions (25-26) on Thursday, May 14, in an ASUN Conference matchup at Braly Municipal Stadium. First pitch is set for a cloudy evening with a temperature of 71 degrees.

The Lions swept a three-game series at Austin Peay last month, outscoring the Governors 37-20 from April 10-12. North Alabama won 9-3, 13-12 and 15-5. The series loss contributed to Austin Peay’s five-game losing streak from April 24-May 3, though the Governors rebounded with a 15-2 rout of Eastern Kentucky on Sunday, May 10.

Austin Peay’s DJ Merriweather has been a two-way threat. The right-hander tossed 6.0 innings, allowing four hits and one earned run with four strikeouts in that win over the Colonels, and also homered twice in the same game. Over his last 10 appearances, Merriweather has four multi-inning pitching outings and three multi-hit games at the plate. He is a player to watch both on the mound and in the lineup.

North Alabama counters with pitcher John Allen Stogner, who last appeared Tuesday in a 9-5 loss at Murray State. Stogner threw 2.2 scoreless innings with one strikeout. In three May outings, the right-hander has a 1.08 ERA over 8.1 innings, though he has surrendered three earned runs in 2.2 innings in his only April appearance. The Lions are 25-26 overall after dropping that midweek contest to the Racers.

Both teams have struggled recently. Austin Peay has lost seven of its last 10, while North Alabama has dropped five of its last eight. The Lions, however, have won four of their past six ASUN games, including a 12-4 win at Central Arkansas on May 9.

The Interstat game simulator projects a 5-4 victory for North Alabama. The series continues Friday and Saturday, also in Florence, with both teams seeking to improve their postseason positioning.