FLORENCE, Ala. (Interstat) — Petey Craska homered twice and drove in five runs to lead North Alabama to a 9-2 victory over Austin Peay on Thursday night at Braly Municipal Stadium in an ASUN conference matchup.

Craska’s second blast, a three-run shot in the eighth inning, broke the game open after the Governors had trimmed the deficit to 6-2. The Lions answered Austin Peay’s only scoring threat earlier in the fourth with a pair of runs in the fifth and then put the game away late. Craska finished 2 for 3 with two walks and two home runs, his 10th and 11th of the season.

North Alabama jumped ahead in the second inning on a three-run homer by catcher Will Millard, his 10th of the year. Millard went 2 for 4 with four RBIs, adding a run-scoring single in the fifth that made it 6-2. The Lions collected 11 hits on the night, with designated hitter Dylan Coleman and shortstop Cole both adding two hits apiece.

Austin Peay managed only two runs despite nine hits. The Governors got on the board in the fourth when center fielder Paris Pridgen tripled to left-center, driving in two runs to cut North Alabama’s lead to 5-2. Pridgen walked and stole a base but finished 1 for 3. First baseman Cole Johnson had two hits, including a double, but the Governors could not string together enough offense against a pair of Lions pitchers.

North Alabama starter Justus Agosto allowed two runs on six hits over 3 2/3 innings before giving way to reliever Gavin Oswald. Oswald tossed 5 1/3 scoreless innings, scattering three hits with one strikeout to earn the victory. He retired 14 of the 17 batters he faced and did not allow a runner past second base after entering in the fourth inning.

Austin Peay starter Chance Cox pitched 4 1/3 innings of hitless relief, allowing one earned run on two walks with four strikeouts, but the Governors could not overcome the early deficit. The Austin Peay bullpen struggled in the late innings; relievers Brody Lanham and Kade Foulke combined to allow three runs in the eighth without recording an out before Cox returned to finish the inning.

The game featured several defensive miscues. North Alabama grounded into two double plays, both turned by Austin Peay third baseman. The first came in the bottom of the first when a grounder to third resulted in a 5-4-3 double play. The second came in the eighth on a lineout to third that doubled off a baserunner.

North Alabama improved to 26-26 overall and 15-15 in the ASUN with the win. Austin Peay fell to 24-28 and 13-17. The two teams continue their weekend series with games Friday and Saturday at Braly Municipal Stadium. North Alabama swept a three-game series at Austin Peay in April, winning 15-5, 13-12 and 9-3.

The pivotal moment came in the eighth when Craska crushed a 1-0 pitch deep to left field with two runners aboard, extending the Lions’ lead to 9-2. The homer came after Austin Peay had squandered a scoring chance in the top of the seventh, leaving a runner at third. The Governors put only two more runners on base the rest of the game.

Interstat’s game simulator projected a final score of North Alabama 5, Austin Peay 4, while Interstat’s ELO system gave Austin Peay a 65.30 percent probability to win.