Austin Peay State University Softball splits doubleheader at Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles

APSU Sports Information

Clarksville, TN – Austin Peay State University senior pitcher Taylor Mills made the most of her first start in the circle this season, April 6th at Cheryl Holt Field, as she pitched a complete-game 6-3 victory over Tennessee Tech University after the Lady Govs had dropped the opening game of the Ohio Valley Conference doubleheader 7-0.

In the Game 2 win, Austin Peay (17-21, 6-7 OVC) would break a 1-1 tie in the bottom of the second inning by scoring five runs on five hits, while also taking advantage of a Tennessee Tech error.

Laurel Burroughs opened the second inning with a single and was safe at second base on a throwing error by Tennessee Tech (12-30, 4-10 OVC) pitcher Hannah Weaver off a ground ball off the bat of Kristin Whitmire.

Both runners would move up on a passed ball by Golden Eagle catcher Chelsea Burgess, then score on a single by freshman designated player Chandler Groves – who was also getting her first start of the season – to make it 3-1.

After a fielder’s choice by Marissa Lake and an infield single by Kayla Davidson, Mel Pavel would drive in Lake with a single followed by a two-run double by Lauren de Castro to make it 6-1.

Mills would take it from there giving up only two more runs in her complete-game victory, the first on an RBI single by Alyssa Richards in the third inning and the final coming in the fourth inning on a wild pitch allowing Hannah Eldridge to score to make it 6-3.

Angie Sakamoto had three hits to lead Tech, while Richards and Eldridge collecting two hits each.

Leading Austin Peay was de Castro, who went 3-for-3, with Burroughs recording two hits.

In Game 1, Tennessee Tech jumped on the Lady Govs starter de Castro (11-8) with four first-inning runs aided by two hit batters and two throwing errors by Davidson.

The inning opened up with de Castro getting the first two hitters quickly and getting ahead of Richards with a 1-2 count.

But de Castro hit Richards with a pitch followed by a single to center field by Kendall Hooper with Richards scoring and Hooper going to third base when Davidson’s throw behind Hooper hit her and when into the Austin Peay dugout.

Things went from bad to worse after that, with de Castro hitting her second Tech batter of the inning followed by a double off the left field fence by Cortney Fry, driving in two, to make it 4-0.

That would be more than enough runs for Golden Eagles starter Danielle Liberatore (6-9), as she limited the Lady Govs to four hits, while striking out 10 and walked three in her second complete-game shutout of the year.

Tennessee Tech would add two more runs in the second inning on a two-run homer by Sakamoto, to make it 6-0, while the final run of the game for the Golden Eagles came in the sixth inning on a home run by Richards.

Hooper led Tech with two hits, while de Castro had two hits for Austin Peay.

The Lady Govs continue their homestand on April 9th, when they step out of conference play, by hosting Middle Tennessee State University for a single game – with a scheduled first pitch set for 1:00pm.

Box Score – Game 1

Score by Innings                  R  H  E
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Tennessee Tech...... 420 001 0 -  7  8  0
Austin Peay......... 000 000 0 -  0  4  2
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Box Score – Game 2

Score by Innings                  R  H  E
-----------------------------------------
Tennessee Tech...... 101 100 0 -  3  9  1
Austin Peay......... 150 000 X -  6 10  1
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