Austin Peay's Lucas turns tables on old UT friend

Baggett's three-run homer dooms Vols, 5-3

Tennessee designated hitter/pitcher Jeff Lockwood expects to hear some smack from Austin Peay catcher Trey Lucas for the next few months.

That's because the Governors came to UT's Lindsey Nelson Stadium on Tuesday and left with a 5-3 victory over the Vols.

Lucas was Lockwood's catcher through middle school, summer ball and at Halls High School, where they graduated 2006. They also played basketball and football together and remain good friends.

"I'll call (Lucas) later this evening," Lockwood said after running post-game wind sprints with the Vols' pitchers. "He's going to be running that trap. I'm just going to have to wear this one. They beat us."

Austin Peay (1-4), which lost four games at Lamar to open the season, avenged a 16-13 loss to the Vols (1-2) last year at Lindsey Nelson Stadium.

You can bet Lucas heard plenty about that game from Lockwood.

"It's always a big deal when we play Tennessee," Lucas said. "Last year they beat us. He talked garbage. It's my time this year."

In last year's game, Lucas went 3-for-5 with a homer and a double. Guess whom he hit the double against?

"Last year I hit a double off (Lockwood) and the next AB (at-bat), he hit me in the leg, first pitch," Lucas said.

Someone said Lockwood called Lucas later that night to talk about the plunking, and told Lucas that he wasn't going to let him hit one in Fort Loudon Lake off him.

Lucas chuckled when reminded about that conversation. "It was something smart-aleck like that," Lucas said.

Tennessee stranded 13 runners, nine in scoring position. The Govs stranded three.

Austin Peay took a 2-0 lead on three hits in the first inning off right-hander Stephen McCray, who allowed no runs the next three innings.

The Vols took a 3-2 lead in the fifth. Lockwood drew a bases-loaded walk, and Blake Forsythe followed with a two-run double.

Austin Peay scored three in the sixth. The Vols' Steven Gruver gave up a leadoff double to Greg Bachman, walked Matt Kole, and struck out the next two.

Gruver was relieved by senior right-hander Ty'Relle Harris. The count went to 3-2, and Baggett hit a three-run homer off the top of the fence in left field for a 5-3 lead.

"It was a fastball," UT coach Todd Raleigh said. "We wanted a breaking ball from the dugout, but (Harris) wanted to go to a fastball. I don't know if it was up (in the strike zone), but I think it was in the middle of the plate."

Said Lockwood: "Kudos to them, they played well. Our offense was anemic. They made the plays. We just didn't get it done when we had to."

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Comments » 26

easttnvol21 writes:

Hmmmm--I seem to remember some mid week struggles a year ago too----can't wait to see ETSU lay the hammer down

Ironcity writes:

Not good

philly78 writes:

Wow, did I just read this? This is not a good year for Vols mens athletics. It's still early....

UT_Thread_Head writes:

why? Why? WHY?

huntined#565710 writes:

Sorta reminds me of WYOMING

UT_Thread_Head writes:

in response to huntined#565710:

Sorta reminds me of WYOMING

Oh, Raleigh

UT_Thread_Head writes:

in response to UT_Thread_Head:

Oh, Raleigh

it just Peay's me off to lose to those guys.

UKnowWhatTheySayAboutOpinions writes:

It is no wonder that teams stumble and struggle. They know these Bozo's will bash them and their coaches if they are less than perfect or don't meet their (who every they are) expectations. I think the best thing for all involved would be to eliminate this forum for clearly stupid comments from supposed fans that seem to relish in trashing players and coaches.

feathersax writes:

in response to VY10_Titans:

(This comment was removed by the site staff.)

Get over Delmonico! He's gone & it's GOOD RIDDANCE! Lost too many instate prospects to Vanderbunk & his idiotic strategies gave up too many outs.

rockytopron writes:

Losing to a team that was 0-4 against Lamar? WOW!

Come on Lady Vol softball team!

CrankE writes:

I'm all Vol, but my dad and his brothers graduated from AP, so I've got to say this, LET's GO PEAY!!!

tripper writes:

in response to VY10_Titans:

(This comment was removed by the site staff.)

Just like those people that think Vince Young is a good quarterback, clueless!

Futurecoach16 writes:

Ok, one of the best coaches I have ever played under, Dwight Smith, came from Austin Peay. Despite their record, that school is not terrible at baseball. Am I disappointed they lost? Yes. Do I think they could/should have won? Of course, but baseball is not like football and basketball. You play so much that you can come back and still be very successful, even after an ugly loss. Raleigh will have this team going soon. And having played against and with the Delmonico kids and seeing their dad in action, I will say that if I was still playing, I would choose Raleigh over Delmonico any day of the week.

volsfan1076 writes:

Let's go Peay!

UT_Thread_Head writes:

in response to UKnowWhatTheySayAboutOpinions:

It is no wonder that teams stumble and struggle. They know these Bozo's will bash them and their coaches if they are less than perfect or don't meet their (who every they are) expectations. I think the best thing for all involved would be to eliminate this forum for clearly stupid comments from supposed fans that seem to relish in trashing players and coaches.

YOUR OPINION STINKS :)!

OK, i'm sorry...group hug for..(who ever he is)

i could be wrong, but i doubt if Coach Raleigh or these young college athletes would waste their time reading these forums..there mainly for us bozo's, and that's MR. BOZO to you, to vent our stupid armchair coaching comments amongst our fellow die hard UT fans.

Pullingguard writes:

in response to philly78:

Wow, did I just read this? This is not a good year for Vols mens athletics. It's still early....

Still early, and wish them the best. However, hearing from tnose interacting with coach away from team and coaching says he is cold and indifferent, lacking good communicating skills..and this might not be important in winning baseball games, but you gottta motivate the kids.

loudonloudmouth writes:

When Raleigh keeps playing people out of position is one thing, but when they can't produce at the plate is another. He has veteran, experienced starters from last year sitting on the bench who have and can out hit what he is playing, this is inexcusable . It really looks as if he hypes certain kld's up to build fan base and is afraid he will look bad to make changes. If he only knew how foolish he looks doing what he's doing. Give it up coach lets win games with the best you got.

knoxlawvol writes:

Losing a midweek game to a team that grabbed its ankles against Lamar is inexcusable! Oh well, I may be somewhat of a bozo, but at least I'll have a job after next season, which is more than I can say for Raleigh and Hamilton. FYI, those that know baseball LAUGH at Todd Raleigh. Oh wait, did my post just cause another loss due to its high realism content?

tnmantravel#531151 writes:

OKEMO say

the ping of ut's bat will soon be heard

When you are in doubt, be still, and wait;
when doubt no longer exists for you, then go forward with courage.

OKEMO has spoken
now pay homage to OKEMO

huntined#565710 writes:

Just hard to understand why TENN loses to these small schools.. Bet they didn't have a player that any SEC School went after.. Just seems as if this takes place at TENN too often. Or maybe they are enough good players that the small schools can get as many good players as the big schools..Like I said hard to understand.

wyomingvol writes:

Mmm, not good...

WorkinLikeHeck writes:

only a few plays away from being undefeated...got to score some more gosh darn runs.

bhjohnso#207063 writes:

this really isn't a big deal. seriously. left a ton of runners on base, some nights the hits just don't fall. just glad that our 3 hole hitter isn't laying down sac bunts any more like ol Rod would have him do

PeayPride writes:

As a graduate of Austin Peay, you guys think Austin Peay is not a very good baseball team. Ask Vanderbilt how hard it is to defeat us. Also, look at the regional tournament game UT hosted in 2006 where Austin Peay about beat you guys when Luke Hocheaver was pitching. The following year we lost to Vandy close in the first game of the 2007 regional then killed Memphis the second game and the last game Vandy pulled a close one out. Do your research before you say Austin Peay isnt any good. LETS GO PEAY

Moost writes:

almost winning regional games is how Raleigh got the UT job Peay. He almost won several and apparently that was enough to get a job at a school that had been to a few World Series.

PeayPride writes:

Moost I am not saying anything about Raleigh. People think Austin Peay isnt very good in baseball. No they dont have the talent that UT has or the resources that UT has. The key to winning games is how much a team is willing to dig deep inside. I went to several of the AP vs. Vandy games. And it seemed like Vandy relaxed at first then notice it was a dogfight with a team that does not have the level of talent they have. Yes UT has a talented team but who should the most HEART between the lines.

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