Austin Peay State University Softball drops doubleheader to Murray State Racers

APSU Sports Information

Clarksville, TN – Austin Peay dropped both ends of an Ohio Valley Conference doubleheader, Saturday afternoon at Cheryl Holt Field, to Murray State by scores of 3-2 and 12-2 – in five innings.

Pinch hitter Chandler Groves and Kayla Davidson open the inning up for Austin Peay by reaching on back-to-back errors by the Racers shortstop Alexa Becker and first baseman Leslie Bridges.

Mel Pavel would follow by sacrificing both runners up into scoring position and bring up the Lady Govs leading hitter Lauren de Castro.

Murray State (23-18, 10-5 OVC) didn’t want anything with de Castro – who already recorded two hits in the game – intentionally walking her to load the bases.

Austin Peay would bring in Vinchenza DiBenedetto to pinch hit, but the freshman grounded back to Racers pitcher Mason Robinson, who started a 1-2-3 double play to end the game.

Austin Peay had jumped out in front with a RBI triple by de Castro in the bottom of the first inning, but saw Murray State take the lead, 2-1, with RBI singles from Cayla Levins and Erica Howard.

Levins and Howard had two hits each for Murray State.

The Lady Govs would tie the game 2-2 in the bottom of the third inning on an error by Racer second baseman Shelbey Miller that allowed de Castro to score.

It would remain 2-2 until the top of the seventh inning, when Bridges opened the inning with a double and was replaced by pinch runner Taylor Odom.

Two outs later, Odom would score what turned out to be the game-winning run on a double by Levins.

Game 2 saw Murray State score at least two runs in each of the final four innings played – including a five-run second inning.

Austin Peay would score its runs in the second and fifth innings, with Rikki Arkansas driving in the first run with a single and DiBenedetto scoring the other on an error by Racers center fielder Casey Castille following a single by Laurel Burroughs.

Miller and Castile had three hits each to lead Murray State in the nightcap, while Bridges, Mallory Young and Jocelynn Rodgers had two hits each.

DiBenedetto and Burroughs had two hits each to lead Austin Peay.

The two teams conclude their three-game OVC series today, with the first pitch scheduled for noon.

Box Score – Game 1

Score by Innings                  R  H  E
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Murray State........ 020 000 1 -  3 12  4
Austin Peay......... 101 000 0 -  2  4  2
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Box Score – Game 2

Score by Innings               R  H  E
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Murray State........ 053 22 - 12 13  2
Austin Peay......... 010 01 -  2  9  3
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