APSU Sports Information
Clarksville, TN – After an 11-day layoff due to a pair of weather postponements, the Austin Peay State University (APSU) softball team opens a busy week that will see them play seven games in six days, beginning with a contest at Lipscomb, on Tuesday, followed by a make-up of an Ohio Valley Conference doubleheader, Wednesday, at Tennessee Tech.
Tuesday’s non-conference matchup at Lipscomb is scheduled for 5:00pm, at Draper Diamond, while the make-up of the OVC doubleheader Wednesday at Tennessee Tech is slated for a 2:00pm start at Tech Softball Field.
The Governors (23-17, 8-4 OVC) enter the non-conference matchup having split its last six games overall, with the Lipscomb contest being the first non-conference opponent for the Govs since March 17th, when they defeated Michigan State in a walk-off victory, 5-2.
After Austin Peay’s first 40 games, the Govs offense is led by Carly Mattson, who is hitting at a .344 clip, which includes 10 doubles, nine home runs and 25 RBIs.
Mattson is followed by Kacy Acree (.336, 5 HR, 21 RBI), Danielle Liermann (.331, 14 HR, 32 RBI), Kelsey Gross (.321, 2 HR, 17 RBI) and Morgan Rackel (.307, 8 HR, 28 RBI).
In the circle, Rackel has been the workhorse of the Govs staff posting a 17-5 overall record – including winning her last 10 decisions — with a 2.21 ERA in 142.2 innings of work, while striking out an OVC-best 169 batters.
Two other Govs have picked up three wins each this year, with Gross posting a 3-1 record, two saves, a 1.98 ERA and 28 strikeouts in 42.1 innings pitched, while Kelly Mardones is 3-11, with a 4.49 ERA and 36 strikeouts in 78 innings pitched.
About the Lipscomb Bisons
The Lipscomb Bisons (31-13-1, 10-4 ASUN) enter the weekend with three players batting over .300 on the season, led by Hannah Devault (.366, 9 HR, 46 RBI) and followed by Jordan Fortel (.331, 5 HR, 32 RBI) and Katie Turner (.310, 1 HR, 11 RBI).
In the circle, Lipscomb is led by Mandy Jordan, who enters with a 13-7 record, including a 2.31 ERA and 128 strikeouts in 124.1 innings of work, while Turner is 10-2 this season, with a 2.96 ERA and 54 strikeouts in 68.2 innings pitched.
About the Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles
The Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles (18-21, 8-8 OVC) enter the weekend with two players batting over .300 on the season, led by Beth McCulley (.362, 1 HR, 7 RBI) and Sydney Love-Baker (.306, 10 HR, 26 RBI).
In the circle, Tech is led by Alyssa Arden, who has posted an 11-10 record so far this season, including a 2.83 ERA and 103 strikeouts in 128.2 innings of work.
APSU Governors Hit and Run
Morgan Rackel has reached base in 17 straight games, tying for the fifth longest streak by a Gov since the 2000 season.
Danielle Liermann ranked in the Top 30 in Division I among active players for home runs (15th), total bases (15th), RBIs (24th) and doubles (28th).
Austin Peay needs two extra-base hits to reach 100 for the season, marking only the third time in the program’s 34-year history they have recorded at least 100 extra-base hits in a season.
Danielle Liermann needs one multi-hit game to reach 60 multi-hit games in her career.
The contest versus Lipscomb is the first of seven games in six days for the Govs, including their final two home doubleheaders of the season this Friday and Sunday.
