FLORENCE, Ala. (Interstat) — Will Millard drove in three runs and Tripp Patterson tossed six scoreless innings as North Alabama defeated Austin Peay 6-1 on Friday at Braly Municipal Stadium.

Patterson allowed six hits, walked one and struck out five to earn the win. The right-hander faced the minimum in four of his six innings and did not allow an earned run, improving to 4-3 on the season.

The Lions snapped a 1-1 tie with a three-run fifth inning. Jackson Westmoreland led off with a double and Petey Craska was hit by a pitch. After a strikeout, Nash Rippen reached on a fielder’s choice, and Westmoreland scored on a throwing error by Austin Peay second baseman Andres Matias. Wes Walker followed with a ground-rule double, and Millard singled to shallow left field, scoring Rippen and Walker to make it 5-1.

North Alabama added an insurance run in the eighth. Millard doubled down the left-field line, advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by Justin Santoyo and scored on Tyler LePage’s double to left field.

Austin Peay’s only run came in the top of the ninth, when Cole Johnson led off with a solo home run to deep left field. Johnson finished 1 for 3 with a walk and the homer.

The Governors took an early lead in the top of the first when Kyler Proctor, Ray Velazquez and Zion Taylor struck out in order. North Alabama tied the game in the second inning. Rippen walked, stole second and scored on Millard’s double to left field.

North Alabama took the lead for good in the fourth. Walker doubled down the right-field line, advanced to third on a groundout and scored on LePage’s single through the right side.

Millard went 3 for 4 with three RBIs. LePage was 2 for 3 with two RBIs. Walker also finished 2 for 4. For Austin Peay, Johnson homered and Trevor Conley had two of the team’s seven hits.

North Alabama used three pitchers after Patterson. Kelly Crumpton pitched the seventh, striking out three in a perfect inning. Luke Davenport worked the eighth, allowing one run on one hit with four strikeouts. Gavin Alveti and Ryker Walton combined for five innings for Austin Peay, with each allowing two earned runs but no hits, a statistical anomaly that reflected the game’s scoring on walks, errors and stolen bases.

The Lions improved to 27-26 overall and 13-16 in the ASUN. Austin Peay fell to 24-29 and 12-17. North Alabama has now won four of five meetings between the teams this season, including a 9-2 victory Thursday in the series opener. The teams conclude their three-game set Saturday.

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