APSU Sports: Austin Peay Softball
Nashville, TN – Despite a 5-for-5 effort at the plate by sophomore Lauren de Castro in the nightcap, Austin Peay’s softball team was swept by Tennessee State in an Ohio Valley Conference doubleheader by scores of 5-0 and 6-5 – in nine innings.
It would remain that way until the bottom of the ninth, when Tennessee State (9-15 2-3 OVC) got a lead-off walk to Brittany Davis to open the inning.
Susie Burke came in to run for Davis and was moved into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt.
Jennifer Givens followed with a single and Burke moved to third.
After a walk to Savannah Gutierrez to load the bases, Burke scored the winning run on a sacrifice fly to left field by Tedra Alford.
Austin Peay had taken a 5-4 lead in the top of the fifth inning, on a two-run single by senior Amy Mills, after TSU had taken its first lead of the game at 4-3 in the bottom of the fourth.
Tennessee State had tied the game 3-3 in the bottom of the third, after Austin Peay built up a 3-1 lead in the top of the second on RBI hits from freshmen Paige Neely and Lauren Bradley.
The Lady Tiger had tied the game 1-1 in the bottom of the second inning, after Austin Peay had taken a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning on an infield groundout off the bat of senior Morgan Brewer.
In game 1, Tennessee State broke a scoreless deadlock in the bottom of the third inning, taking advantage of a walk and two hits.
Davis opened the inning by working a walk from Austin Peay’s senior starting pitcher Ashley Bolda, who was then replaced by Brewer.
Brewer was able to get the next Lady Tiger out, but Givens laid down a bunt for a hit – putting runners at first and second.
Brewer out the next hitter swinging, but the ball was in the dirt and both runners advance a base.
That brought up Alford, who smacked a 0-2 off-speed pitch down the left field line driving in the two go-head runs.
The score would remain 2-0 until the bottom of the sixth, when Tennessee State scored three more runs on three hits and two Lady Gov errors.
Austin Peay, who finished with four hits, never got a runner past second base and none with less than two outs.
Shea Morris (5-8) got the win for TSU, recording her first career shutout and the first shutout recorded by Tennessee State this season.
Brewer, Neely, de Castro and Mills had the four Lady Govs hits in the opener.
Austin Peay returns to action this Saturday and Sunday, as it hosts Morehead State in a three-game OVC series at Cheryl Holt Field.
