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APSU Softball sets school record for number of wins in a season with sweep of Eastern Illinois

APSU Sports Information

APSU SoftballClarksville, TN – Austin Peay State University’s Morgan Rackel pitched the Governors first no-hitter in 21 years in Game 1 versus Eastern Illinois, Sunday at Cheryl Holt Field at Joe and Cathi Maynard Softball Stadium, to help propel the APSU Govs to an Ohio Valley Conference sweep of the Panthers in 1-0 and 11-5 finals.

The two wins for the Govs (33-15, 14-4 OVC) also help set a school single-season record for victories, breaking the old mark of 32 wins set back in 1989, while also guaranteeing the team a spot in the OVC Championship Tournament for the first time since the 2007 season.

Austin Peay Softball celebrated (L to R) Alexis Hill, Erica Inagaki and Savanna Oliver on Senior Day, Sunday. (APSU Sports Information)
Austin Peay Softball celebrated (L to R) Alexis Hill, Erica Inagaki and Savanna Oliver on Senior Day, Sunday. (APSU Sports Information)

Rackel (18-6) would only need 89 pitches to complete the sixth no-hitter in the program’s history, with only three EIU (31-17, 10-8 OVC) hitters reaching base in the contest, coming on two APSU errors and a walk. She struck out 11.

The contests were also the final home games in the careers of three Austin Peay seniors — Alexis Hill, Erica Inagaki and Savanna Oliver — who were honored in a ceremony following the games.

The Govs will be off until next weekend, as they concentrate on final exams during the midweek, but return to action by traveling to Murray State and Tennessee State next Saturday and Sunday to wrap-up their 2018 regular-season schedule.

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, Eastern Illinois 0

Bailey Shorter accounted for all the scoring behind Rackel’s no-hitter, leading off the bottom of the seventh inning by blasting a 2-1 pitch over the left field fence for her fifth home run of the season to seal away the 1-0 walk-off victory.

Kacy Acree would have the only other APSU hit in Game 1, a single down the left field line to open the fourth inning, with Natalie Schilling being the only other Gov to reach base with a one-out walk in the sixth inning.

Game 2

Austin Peay 11, Eastern Illinois 5

The Govs would fall behind 4-0 heading into the bottom of the second inning but responded with three runs in the inning – highlighted by a two-run double by Acree – to cut the Panthers lead to one.

It would remain a 4-3 game until the bottom of the fourth, when the Govs exploded for five runs on three hits, to take the lead for good, including a two-run single by Shorter and a RBI double by Carly Mattson.

Kelly Mardones (11-4) would take advantage of the rally, by holding the Panthers at bay until the seventh, with Kelsey Gross coming in out of the bullpen to record the final two outs in relief.

Austin Peay would add a single run in the fifth inning, on an RBI single by Acree, while tacking on two final runs in the sixth – including one on a pinch-hit single by Savanna Oliver – before the Panthers added their final run of the game in the top of the seventh inning for the 11-5 final.

Inside the Box Score

Morgan Rackel’s no-hitter was the first by an APSU pitcher since Amanda Stout pitched an 8-0 no-hitter versus Kentucky State on March 27th, 1997.

Kacy Acree has reached base in 24 straight games, the second-longest such streak by an APSU player since the 2000 season.

Kacy Acree had recorded a hit in 11 straight games, the third streak of at least 10-straight games with a hit in her career, no other APSU player has more than one such streak in their careers since 2000.

The 12 home wins this season ties the school record for home victories at Cheryl Holt Field at Joe and Cathi Maynard Softball Stadium, matching the 2003 and 2007 teams.

The Govs have now scored 210 runs this season, the first time the team has surpassed 200 runs in a season since 1994.

Austin Peay hitters have drawn 153 walks this season, the most in a single season in school history.

Coaching Quotable with Head Coach Rodney DeLong

On breaking wins record in first season
“We had talked in the beginning of the year about winning 30 games, so that was kind of our number from Day 1 and it’s just been unbelievable what we’ve gone through over the course of the year and for them to do that they have done I’m just so proud of them and I’m proud of the coaches.”

On Hollywood ending in Game 1 win
“Morgan (Rackel) throws an unbelievable game and Bailey Shorter has kind of been the unsung hero of our team, besides Danielle Liermann, with Bailey getting big hit after big hit. The moxie of that kid in that situation and to hit a ball like that and win a game, that was huge.”

On final OVC weekend after final exams
“Now were we’re sitting, we’re trying to run down Eastern Kentucky (for the top spot in the OVC standings), so we’ll find time this week to get some work in around exams, then go into next weekend on the road like we did this weekend here at home and go to work.”

On making post-season tournament field
“It was good to secure a spot in the tournament, but we’re trying to finish in the top of this thing (regular-season standing), so hopefully we’ll get some help and have a good weekend next weekend.”

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