APSU Lady Govs Softball lose both games Friday against UT Martin Skyhawks

APSU Sports: Austin Peay Women’s Softball

Martin, TN – Austin Peay State University’s softball team had leads in both Ohio Valley Conference games on Friday, as Bettye Giles Field, but saw Tennessee Martin rally in both for 8-5 and 4-3 wins.

Austin Peay starter Lauren de Castro would get the leadoff hitter out to start the inning, but she followed that with back-to-back walks.

The Lady Govs would get the second out of the inning, but Lauren Smith blasted a shot over the left-center field fence for her seventh home run of the season to give the Skyhawks (22-9, 6-2 OVC) the 3-0 advantage.

Austin Peay would answer right back in the top of the next inning, with de Castro leading off the single with a single, followed by Kayla Davidson reaching on an error.

After a sacrifice by Mel Pavel moved both into scoring position, followed by Shelby Norton blasting the first pitch she saw over the center field fence for her second home run of the season to tie the game 3-3.

The Lady Govs would take their first lead of the game 4-3 in the third, with Marissa Lake leading off the inning with a single and after moving around to third on a sacrifice and a deep fly ball, scored on a UT Martin error.

The Skyhawks would tie the game 4-4 in the bottom of the inning on an RBI triple by Kayla Wade, scoring Mikala Torrence — who had reached on a single.

The score would remain that way until the top of the sixth inning, when the Lady Govs took a 5-4 lead on a Norton two-out single that drove in de Castro — who had opened the inning with an infield single.

Norton, de Castro and Lake had two hits each for the Lady Govs.

But Austin Peay wasn’t able to keep its advantage, as UT Martin scored four runs on four hits in the bottom of the sixth inning to go up for good 8-5.

In Game 2, an error and walk to start the inning set the table for the Skyhawks in the bottom of the first inning, with Kenzi Tate and Smith picking up RBI singles to put UT Martin up 2-0.

Austin Peay would tie the game 2-2 in the top of the second – aided by two UT Martin errors.

Davison opened the inning with a single and moved to second when on a sacrifice attempt by Pavel the throw to get the lead runner was not misplayed and both runners were safe.

The Skyhawks would make a second error on the ensuing sacrifice by Norton, allowing Davidson to score from second.

Pavel would score the second run of the inning on an infield groundout by Abby Guest.

Austin Peay would take a lead 3-2 in the third inning on an RBI single by de Castro, as she drove in Jessica Ryan – who opened the inning with a single.

Ryan was perfect at the plate finishing with two singles and two walks.

The lead would be short lived.

Leah Taylor would lead off the bottom of the third with her fourth home run of the season to tie the game, while Tate followed with a double, and two batters later scored on a single by Becca Williams to give the Skyhawks a 4-3 lead they would never give up.

The two teams will conclude their three-game series March 30th, starting at noon.

Box Score – Game 1

Score by Innings                  R  H  E
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Austin Peay......... 031 001 0 -  5  6  1
Tennessee Martin.... 301 004 X -  8  7  3
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Box Score – Game 2

Score by Innings                  R  H  E
-----------------------------------------
Austin Peay......... 021 000 0 -  3  5  1
Tennessee Martin.... 202 000 X -  4  7  2
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