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HomeSportsAPSU Softball takes two from Belmont, Saturday

APSU Softball takes two from Belmont, Saturday

APSU Sports Information

APSU SoftballNashville, TN – Austin Peay State University’s softball team continues to add to its record-setting road win total by sweeping Belmont, Saturday at E.S. Rose Park, by finals of 1-0 (in eight innings) and 7-2.

The Govs (27-15, 10-4 OVC) now have 14 true road wins this season, the most by any Ohio Valley Conference school this spring, and four more than in any other season in the program’s history.

Austin Peay Softball downs Belmont 1-0 in extra innings, then gets 7-2 win in the second game Saturday at E.S. Rose Park. (APSU Sports Information)
Austin Peay Softball downs Belmont 1-0 in extra innings, then gets 7-2 win in the second game Saturday at E.S. Rose Park. (APSU Sports Information)

The Govs will be off until Wednesday, when they begin their final homestand of the season, with a non-conference doubleheader versus Alabama A&M at Cheryl Holt Field at Joe and Cathi Maynard Softball Stadium.

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

Game 1

Austin Peay 1, Belmont 0

2018 APSU Softball - Bailey ShorterBailey Shorter‘s single through the right-side of the Belmont (22-19, 3-11 OVC) infield scored Kacy Acree – who had doubled — in the top of the eighth inning for the game’s only run as the Govs edged the Bruins, 1-0.

Left-hander Morgan Rackel (14-6) was once again dominate in the circle for the Govs, allowing only two hits to Belmont, which tied her season-low in a game, while walking two and striking out eight.

Rackel, Carly Mattson and Natalie Schilling also had hits in the opener.

Game 2

Austin Peay 7, Belmont 2

2018 APSU Softball - Danielle LiermannThe Govs overcame an early 2-1 deficit by scoring the final six runs of the game to complete the sweep of the Bruins.

Austin Peay had jumped out to a 1-0 advantage on Shorter’s third home run of the season in the top of the first inning, but Belmont responded by scoring its only two runs of the day in the bottom of the frame to take its first lead of the day.

But that lead would be short-lived, with the Govs taking advantage of three walks by Bruins pitchers to take the lead for good, with Danielle Liermann drawing a bases-loaded walk to force in Schilling, while Rackel’s sacrifice fly scored Acree with the go-ahead run.

2018 APSU Softball - Kelly MardonesKelly Mardones (9-4) would take it from there, as the Govs starter shutout Belmont after that, scattering seven Bruins hits, while striking out a season-tying high five batters.

While Mardones shutdown the Bruins offense, the Govs continued to add to its lead, scoring in each of it’s last three at bats.

In the fifth inning, Acree drove in Brooke Pfefferle and Emily Moore with a base-loaded single to center field, while in the sixth, Savanna Oliver came off the bench to pick up an RBI in scoring Mattson with a pinch-hit single.

The Govs would closeout the day’s scoring with a RBI double from Liermann, driving in Acree.

Inside the Box Score

With the two wins, Rodney DeLong becomes the school’s record holder for most wins by a softball coach in their first season at the helm.

The extra-inning win in Game 1 versus Belmont broke a string on 10 straight extra-inning losses by the Govs, dating back to March 23rd, 2014.

The 27 wins by the Govs are the fourth-most in a single season in school history.

Austin Peay reaches 10 conference wins for the first time since 2012.

Natalie Schilling stole two bases to become the first APSU player to reach 30 steals in a season.

2018 APSU Softball - Kacy AcreeWith her double in Game 2, Danielle Liermann became just the second player in school history to reach 100 total bases in a season.

The Game 1 shutout was the Govs 10th of the season, the first time since 1993 APSU pitchers have recorded at least 10 shutouts in a season.

The Govs drew a season-high 10 walks in Game 2 of the doubleheader.

Kacy Acree has reached base in 18 straight games, tying for the third-longest such streak by an APSU player since 2000.

Coaching Quotables with Head Coach Rodney DeLong

On grinding out Game 1 win
“I’m proud of the girls because Game 1 was tough, and their pitcher threw really well, but we had some gritty at bats late in the game. Kacy Acree hits a double down the left field line and Bailey (Shorter) follows by driving in the run with a single through the right-side of their infield. That was a big-time type of at bat coming against a pitcher that we had struggled with.”

On Rackel’s and Mardones’ performances in the circle
“Morgan (Rackel) had been great all year and her ability to get out of jams has been huge for us this season. Early-on there Game 1 there were a couple of tough situations, but she battles her way through. She’s such a competitor and she gave us a big-time performance that we needed against a great pitcher.

“Kelly (Mardones) had a great performance in Game 2, she is just so consistent and after giving up those two early runs she kept Belmont from scoring the rest of the way.”

On the final homestand of the year
“We kind of control our own destiny as far as finishing in the top part of the conference (standings) this year. It’s a big weekend next weekend with SIU Edwardsville and Eastern Illinois come in and hopefully we get out offense going and get on a roll.”

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