APSU Lady Govs Softball get shutout in series finale versus Eastern Illinois University

Clarksville, TN — Austin Peay State University’s softball team’s resent hitting slump continued Sunday afternoon, at Cheryl Holt Field in the final game of its three-game Ohio Valley Conference series, as it was shutout by Eastern Illinois, 6-0.

The Lady Govs (9-10, 0-3 OVC) only recorded two hits in the loss, while Panthers starting pitcher Hanna Mennenga (8-3) struck out nine, giving her 25 total strikeouts in her two appearances against Austin Peay this weekend.

It wasn’t just the hitting woes that hurt the Lady Govs on Sunday, as some early wildness by Austin Peay starting pitcher Lauren de Castro put two runners on quickly – hitting Melise Brown and Carly Willert to start the game.

Hannah Cole would follow with a double into left-center field driving in Brown and Willert for a 2-0 advantage.

The Lady Govs would threaten in both the second and fourth innings, with Kayla Davidson doubling to open the second inning – but was only able to get as far as third base – while Jessica Ryan doubled to open the fourth, but was stranded there.

Davidson would reach base in each of her three trips to the plate on Sunday.

Eastern Illinois would add a run in the top of the fifth inning, on Brooke Owen’s fourth home run of the season, to make it 3-0.

The score would remain that way until the top of the seventh inning, when the Panthers were about to add three insurance runs to go up 6-0.

The first run of the inning came off Willert’s first home run of the season, to open the inning.

Austin Peay was able to get the next Panther out, but a walk to Owens and a throwing error on a ground ball by Bailey O’Dell — by Austin Peay third baseman Niya Sparks – put runners on second and third.

Pinch hitter Abby Wood would follow with a single to drive in Owens, while the final run of the inning came on a ground out by Ashleigh Westover.

The Lady Govs would threaten one final time in the bottom of the seventh, with Davidson being hit by a pitch and Abby Guest drawing a walk, but Eastern Illinois was able to get out of the inning without Austin Peay being able to push anything across.

Austin Peay is off until next weekend, when they hit the road for the first time in OVC play, facing Jacksonville State on Saturday and Tennessee Tech on Sunday.

Box Score

Eastern Illinois 6, Austin Peay 0

Eastern Illinois 200 010 3—6 10 0
Austin Peay 000 000 0—0 2 2

Hanna Mennenga and Hannah Cole; Lauren de Castro, Morgan Brewer (7) and Mel Pavel

WP-Mennenga (8-3)
LP-de Castro (5-4)
HR: EIU-Brooke Owen (4), Carly Willert (1)