Austin Peay Lady Govs Softball split games with the Morehead State Eagles

APSU Sports: Austin Peay Softball

Clarksville, TN – Lauren de Castro’s walk-off RBI single helped Austin Peay’s softball team to earn a split in its Ohio Valley Conference doubleheader with Morehead State Saturday afternoon, at Cheryl Holt Field, with the Lady Govs taking the opener 2-1, while the Eagles took the nightcap in eight innings 4-3.

But APSU (8-16, 2-7 OVC) senior Amy Mills opened the inning with an infield hit – and was pinch ran for by freshman Courtney Ervin.

Ervin then got into scoring position by stealing second.

The Lady Govs then got a lucky break when red-shirt junior Jessica Ryan struck out on a pitch in the dirt that wasn’t caught by the Morehead State catcher and Ryan was able to reach first safely.

Sophomore Kayla Davidson followed by sacrificing Ervin and Ryan to second and third base, which brought up Austin Peay’s leading hitter in de Castro.

Morehead State pitcher Katie Pfost got ahead of the sophomore 0-2, but the California native rifled the next pitch up the middle for the game winner, driving in Ervin.

Morehead State had taken a 1-0 lead in the top of the fourth inning on an RBI single by Amber Riddle, driving in Elizabeth Wagner – who had reached on a double.

Austin Peay would respond by tying the game in the bottom of the inning on a two-out RBI single by Mills, scoring senior Catie Cozart, who had opened the inning with a single.

Junior Morgan Brewer (3-7) got the complete-game win, giving up four hits and one earned run, while striking out five and walking none.

Pfost (2-6) took the loss in giving up six hit and two runs – one earned – while striking out four and walking none.

In Game 2, Morehead State took the lead three different times, but it wasn’t until the third time the Eagles were able to hold on.

Morehead State took its first lead 1-0 in the top of the third inning on an RBI double by Anna Sommer to driving in Samm Sparks – who had reached on an error.

Austin Peay would tie the game in the bottom of the inning on a throwing error by Morehead State allowing de Castro to score from second base after recording a two-out double.

The score would remain that way until the top of the sixth inning, when the Eagles would plate two runs on Amber Riddle’s eighth home run of the season, also scoring Kayla Brill who was hit by a pitch.

Austin Peay would respond again in the bottom of the seventh inning with Mills and freshman Paige Neely reaching on singles, but the big blow was de Castro’s triple off the left field fence to drive in two runs to tie the game 3-3.

But two Austin Peay errors in the top of the eighth inning allowed the Eagles to score an unearned run to go up 4-3.

Austin Peay was able to get the tying run on base on a single by sophomore Caitlyn Anderson, but Morehead State starter Jani Whitcomb (4-4) get Mills on a come-backer to end the game.

Whitcomb gave up seven hits and three runs – two earned – with one strikeout and no walks in picking up the win, while de Castro (4-4) took the loss; also giving up seven hits and four runs – two earned – while striking out five and walking none.

The two teams will conclude the three-game OVC series on Sunday with a single game at Cheryl Holt Field, starting at 1:00pm.

Box Score – Game 1

Morehead State at Austin Peay
March 24th, 2012 at Clarksville, TN (Cheryl Holt Field)

Score by Innings                  R  H  E
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Morehead State...... 000 100 0 -  1  4  1
Austin Peay......... 000 100 1 -  2  6  0
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Box Score – Game 2

Morehead State at Austin Peay
March 24th, 2012 at Clarksville, TN (Cheryl Holt Field)

Score by Innings                   R  H  E
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Morehead State...... 001 002 01 -  4  7  2
Austin Peay......... 001 000 20 -  3  7  3
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