APSU Sports Information
Morehead, KY – For the first time in 11 years, Austin Peay State University’s softball team opened Ohio Valley Conference play 2-0, Friday at University Field, as the Govs swept Morehead State by 3-1 and 6-3 finals.
The wins were the first back-to-back victories to open OVC play for Austin Peay since the Govs took two from Tennessee State back on March 17th, 2007, while Friday’s wins also marked the first time the Govs (17-8, 2-0 OVC) had swept the Eagles (16-8, 0-2 OVC) at Morehead since April 3rd, 2005.
The Govs are scheduled to return to action, noon, Sunday with another OVC road doubleheader at Eastern Kentucky.
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 3, Morehead State 1
The Govs got another outstanding pitching performance from junior Morgan Rackel (9-3), as she outdueled Morehead State’s pitching ace Chelsea McManaway (11-3) in a battle of the two top left-handed pitchers in the conference.
Overall, Rackel only allowed four hits and one earned run in seven innings or work, striking out five, while McManaway allowed four hits, but also walked three in giving up three runs despite striking out 12.
Both pitchers would take no-hitters into the fourth inning, but Austin Peay was the first to break on top, with Carly Mattson hitting her fourth home run of the season to put the Govs on top, 1-0.
The Eagles would respond in the bottom of the inning by scoring their only run on two hits to tie the game, 1-1.
But the Govs would have the last say in the scoring column in the opener, with freshman Bailey Shorter doubling off the fence in right field to drive in Natalie Schilling and Rackel with what proved to be the game-winning runs.
Game 2
Austin Peay 6, Morehead State 3
Kacy Acree doubled Schilling in the go-ahead run in the top of the seventh inning, with Rackel adding two more insurance runs with her fourth home run of the season two batters later as the Govs rallied past the Eagles.
Rackel would finish the game with three hits and three RBI.
Austin Peay had jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning on Danielle Liermann‘s conference-leading 11th home run of the season, but Morehead State tied the game in their second at bat, 2-2, with a two-run homer of their own.
The Govs would retake the lead on an RBI single by Rackel, scoring Brooke Pfefferle, but the Eagles would answer back with a run of their own to tie the game 3-3.
Rackel, the Govs third pitcher of the game would pick up the win in relief, going the final 1.2 innings and allowing no base runners and striking out one.
Kelly Mardones started for the Govs, going 2.1 innings, with Kelsey Gross relieving her in the third inning and pitching three shutout innings of relief, scattering three hits and walking one.
Inside the Box Score
With her home run in Game 2, Danielle Liermann moves into second place by herself all-time in school history for career home runs with 27.
Kacy Acree‘s double in Game 2 moved her into a tie for 10th place all-time for doubles, with 25 in her career.
Austin Peay is now 14-3 in games played in March.
The Game 2 win versus Morehead State was the first this season where the Govs scored the game-winning run in their final at bat.
Morgan Rackel became just the second Govs pitcher since 2010 to pick up wins in both ends of the doubleheader (Kelsey Gross, Samford—3/22/2017).
Coaching Quotables with Head Coach Rodney DeLong
On opening OVC play 2-0
“We’ll take two wins in conference play any day. I was proud of the grit today, we weren’t great all day, but we executed when we need too and made plays when we needed too.”
On taking advantage on opportunities
“Kacy (Acree) had a big hit to put us ahead in the second game, Bailey (Shorter) had a big two RBI double in the first game, Morgan (Rackel) hit a big home run. We just had kids step up at the right time and that’s what good teams do.”
On the team growing confidence
“You can see them learning how to win games. We still have to be better mentality though. We weren’t great mentality in Game 2 and it almost came back at bit us and hopefully we’ll learn from that and do a better job of finishing a double header next time.”
