APSU Sports Information
Oxford, AL – Austin Peay State University’s softball team rallied back time and time again versus Eastern Kentucky, Saturday at Choccolocco Park in the Ohio Valley Conference Championship Tournament, but it last-inning push came up one run short in an 8-7 final.
With the loss, the Governors (39-17) end their tournament run with a program-best third-place finish in the championship along with a school record three wins in the event.
The Govs trailed Eastern Kentucky 8-4 heading into the bottom of the sixth inning but a solo home run from junior Kacy Acree to cut the Colonels lead to 8-5.
Junior Morgan Rackel would strikeout out the side in the top of the seventh inning to keep the Colonels (40-17) to within three runs with the Govs 6-7-8 hitters coming up.
Bailey Shorter, the OVC’s Freshman of the Year would draw a walk to open the inning and score and out later on Emily Moore’s second home run of the season to make it a one-run game.
Moore would finish the game with two hits, two RBIs and three runs scored, while Shorter had two hits.
Acree would draw a two-out walk to put the protentional tying run on base for the Govs and bring the game-winning to the plate, but a pop-up on the infield ended the threat and the game, 8-7.
Acree reached base four times in the contest on two hits and two walks.
Eastern Kentucky jumped out to a quick two-run lead in the top of the first inning, with the score remaining that way until the bottom of the third inning, when the Govs rallied for three runs to take the lead.
Moore would open the inning with a walk, steal second, then move around to third base on a single by Acree.
Junior Natalie Schilling would bring in Moore with the Govs first run with an infield out, with junior Danielle Liermann then drawing a walk to load the bases.
Junior Carly Mattson then gave the Govs their only lead of the game, 3-2, and out later on a two-run single to center.
You can follow all the Govs on Austin Peay’s official athletics website Let’sGoPeay.com or on Twitter @AustinPeaySB for more information or updates.
Inside the Box Score
Pitcher Morgan Rackel and catcher Carly Mattson were named to the OVC Championship All-Tournament team.
With her three strikeouts Saturday, Morgan Rackel now has 201 strikeouts on the season becoming the third pitcher in program history to record at least 200 strikeouts in a season.
Emily Moore’s home run in the bottom of the seventh inning was the Govs 400th hit of the season, the first 400-hit season in the program’s history.
The two home runs hit by Austin Peay versus Eastern Kentucky gives the Governors 51 on the season, the first 50+ home run season by an APSU team in history.
In her last 12 appearances, Morgan Rackel has posted a 10-0 record with a 0.35 ERA in 60.1 total innings pitched, with 63 strikeouts.
Coaching Quotables with Head Coach Rodney DeLong
On team’s battling to the last pitch
“The kids fought hard out there today, and I was proud of their effort. We played as hard as we could and gave ourselves a chance to win the game at the end.”
On team using this as part of their learning process
“This weekend was a good experience for us and being a young team we needed to go through this experience this weekend. I was pleased with the way we handled everything and I’m looking forward to getting into this situation again.”
On Carly Mattson and Morgan Rackel making all-tournament team
“They were both very deserving of the award. They both played really well and I was glad to see Carly get recognized for her efforts, because she is a big part of what we do and of course Morgan threw well all weekend, so I was happy for both of them.”
On what this weekend means for the future of the program
“This group really wanted to raise the bar for our program and they did. They put us at a new level, at new expectation and I’m really happy for the way they ended the season.”
