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HomeSportsAPSU Softball plays Middle Tennessee in Murfreesboro, Monday

APSU Softball plays Middle Tennessee in Murfreesboro, Monday

Austin Peay at Middle Tennessee

Monday, April 2nd, 2018 | 4:00pm
Murfreesboro, TN | Blue Raiders Softball Field

APSU SoftballClarksville, TN – Austin Peay State University’s softball team will step out of Ohio Valley Conference play, 4:00pm, Monday for single game versus Middle Tennessee State University at Blue Raiders Softball Field in Murfreesboro, Tennessee.

The game is a make-up of the postponed February 28th contest.

Austin Peay Softball heads to Murfreesboro, Monday, to take on the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders. First pitch is at 4:00pm. (APSU Sports Information)
Austin Peay Softball heads to Murfreesboro, Monday, to take on the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders. First pitch is at 4:00pm. (APSU Sports Information)

The Govs enter the matchup versus the former OVC rival with a 20-9 overall record this spring, after taking both ends of a doubleheader this past Friday versus Tennessee Tech, while Middle Tennessee comes in sporting a 24-12 record after salvaging the final game of its Conference USA series at UAB, Saturday.

This matchup with the Blue Raiders is the eighth most-played series in Govs history, with Monday’s contest being the 52nd all-time meeting between the two schools dating back to their first contest back on March 11, 1993 in Clarksville. APSU trailing in the series 34-17.

Leading the Govs offense heading into the matchup is junior third baseman Danielle Liermann, who is hitting at a .419 clip this season, after 29 games, including a team- and OVC-high 13 home runs, along with 36 RBIs.

Freshman outfielder Bailey Shorter and junior outfielder Kacy Acree are also batting .300-or-better this season, with Shorter coming in with a .333 batting average – including five doubles and two home runs – while Acree is hitting an even .300 with eight doubles, a triple, five home runs and 20 RBI.

Coming in just under the .300 mark are a pair of juniors in pitcher/outfielder Morgan Rackel and Natalie Schilling, who are batting .296 and .290 respectively – with Rackel recording four doubles, five home runs and 19 RBI, while Schilling leads the team with 30 runs scored and 22 stolen bases.

In the circle, the Govs have three pitchers that have posted .500-or-better records, led by Rackel’s 10-4 mark, which includes a 1.97 ERA and 105 strikeouts in 92.1 innings of work.

Junior Kelly Mardones has posted a 7-2 mark this season, with a team-low 1.86 ERA and 20 k’s in 60.1 innings, while sophomore Kelsey Gross rounds out the trio, coming in with a 3-3 record, two saves and a 3.57 ERA and 24 k’s in 35.1 innings pitched.

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

About the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders

The Blue Raiders come into Monday’s game having gone 2-0 versus OVC opponents so far this season, defeating Tennessee Martin, 3-0, back on February 17th at the Alabama State Black & Gold Tournament and Tennessee State, 7-1, at home on March 27th.

Offensively, Middle Tennessee is batting .309 as a team, led by Summer Burgess’ .410 batting average, followed by Precious Birdsong (.374), Morgan Harris (.369) and Lexi Cushing (.365). Cushing leads the Blue Raiders in home runs (8) and RBIs (28).

In the circle, Cori Jennings tops the Blue Raiders pitching staff, with a 11-6 record, including a 1.99 ERA and 61 strikeouts in 95 innings of work.

Govs Hit-and-Run

Govs posted an overall record of 17-4 in March, it’s best record in a single month since going 16-9 in March 1998.

Sophomore pitcher Kelsey Gross has not allowed a run over her last six appreances, which covers 19.1 innings overall, allowing 14 hits, three walks and striking out 13.

Junior pitcher Morgan Rackel recorded a career-high 12 strikeouts versus Tennessee Tech in her last start on Friday.

Rackel became the first pitcher since 2014 to strikeout at least 100 batters and win 10 games in a season for APSU.

Austin Peay reached 20 wins in just 29 games this season, the second-quickest in school history, trailing only the 1989 squad that got to 20 wins in 28 games.

Junior pitcher Kelly Mardones threw her second game of the season where she limited her opponent to just two hits in her victory over Tennessee Tech on Friday.

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