61.4 F
Clarksville
Thursday, March 28, 2024
HomeSportsAPSU Softball blanks Saint Peter's 12-0, beats East Tennessee 5-2, stays perfect...

APSU Softball blanks Saint Peter’s 12-0, beats East Tennessee 5-2, stays perfect at Buccaneers Classic

APSU Sports Information

APSU SoftballJohnson City, TN – Austin Peay State University’s softball team completed a perfect run at the East Tennessee State University Buccaneers Classic, Sunday at Betty Basler Field, by defeating Saint Peter’s 12-0 and East Tennessee 5-2 to finish the weekend 4-0.

The Governors (10-7) continued their hot hitting in the tournament, recording double-figure hits in both games, and finishing the weekend with 44 total hits and batting an even .400 as a team this weekend.

Austin Peay Softball gets 12-0 win over Saint Peter's and 5-2 win over East Tennessee at the Buccaneers Classic, Sunday. (APSU Sports Information)
Austin Peay Softball gets 12-0 win over Saint Peter’s and 5-2 win over East Tennessee at the Buccaneers Classic, Sunday. (APSU Sports Information)

While Austin Peay was taking care of business at the plate, the Govs pitching staff was just as good, holding its opponents to a .180 batting average on the weekend, while posting a microscopic ERA of 0.29, with 24 strikeouts in 24 innings pitched.

The Govs will return to action this coming Tuesday, as they host their first home game of the season at Cheryl Holt Field, with a 3:00pm single game versus Bradley.

Follow the Govs softball team on Austin Peay’s official athletics website Let’sGoPeay.com or on Twitter @AustinPeaySB.

Game 1

Austin Peay 12, Saint Peter’s 0

The Governors jumped out right from the start against the Peacocks, as they plated four runs in their first at bat – highlighted by RBI doubles Kacy Acree and Carly Mattson, while Bailey Shorter and Katelyn Smith also picked up RBIs with singles.

Danielle Liermann continued her early-season power display with a two-run homer in the second inning, while Morgan Rackel added an RBI single in the third.

The Govs would close the first game’s scoring in the fourth inning, with Acree blasting a three-run homer, the Govs fourth hit to go for extra bases.

Kelsey Gross (2-3) would pickup the complete-game shutout, limiting Saint Peter’s to just four hits, while striking out four and walking none.

Game 2

Austin Peay 5, East Tennessee 2

Liermann would break open a 1-1 tie with the Buccaneers with a two-run homer in the top of the third inning, her ninth home run of the season and her third of the weekend.

ETSU would cut the Govs advantage to 3-2, with a run in the bottom of the fourth inning, but they responded with single runs in the fifth and sixth innings, coming on an RBI single by Liermann in the fifth and an RBI pinch-hit single by Kendall Vedder in the sixth.

The Govs opening run of the game in the first inning came on back-to-back doubles by Liermann and Rackel.

Rackel (5-2) would also pick up the win in relief, coming in with two out in the bottom of the fourth inning and throwing 3.1 inning of one-hit shutout relief of APSU starter Kelly Mardones—who went 3.2 innings, while giving up just four hits and two walks.

Inside the Box Score

The four-game win streak for Austin Peay is the longest for the Govs since they won five straight games from March 20th to March 23rd, 2014.

Danielle Liermann‘s two-run homer versus East Tennessee gave her 100 RBIs in her career, making her just the fifth Gov in APSU history to reach that milestone.

The complete-game shutout by Kelsey Gross versus Saint Peter’s was the first of her career.

Governors hits drew more walks at the Buccaneers Classic (14) than they had strikeouts (12).

Of the Govs 44 hits this weekend, 17 went for extra-bases (12 doubles, five home runs).

Coaching Quotables with Head Coach Rodney DeLong

On going undefeated during tournament
“We’re just trying to get better every day and get better every weekend. The kids continue to believe and continue to work hard and I’m excited to see what’s to come.

“We knew it was going to take some time and take some at bats and people that are capable of being good hitters for us are staring to perform and the lineup is starting to take shape.”

On complete team effort
“We’ve been pitching well and if we hit and play defense we have a chance to be pretty good and it’s exciting to see the improvement, but we still have a long way to go, but I like where we’re at today.”

On home opener
“We’re excited to come home and play a home game, Bradley represents a great challenge and they’re a good program that is well coached and we’re looking forward to playing someone good at home.”

RELATED ARTICLES

Latest Articles