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HomeSportsAPSU Softball sweeps doubleheader against Morehead State

APSU Softball sweeps doubleheader against Morehead State

APSU SoftballClarksville, TN – The Austin Peay State University (APSU) softball team continued it hot hitting, lights-out pitching and solid defense Friday versus Morehead State, at Cathi Maynard Park at Cheryl Holt Field in a pair of Ohio Valley Conference contests, as the Govs run-ruled the Eagles twice by 10-2 and 10-0 finals.

Austin Peay Softball beats Morehead State 10-2 and 10-0 Friday at the Cathi Maynard Park at Cheryl Holt Field. (APSU Sports Information)
Austin Peay Softball beats Morehead State 10-2 and 10-0 Friday at the Cathi Maynard Park at Cheryl Holt Field. (APSU Sports Information)

Overall, the Govs (27-18, 12-4 OVC) recorded 21 hits – including 10 for extra-bases – while the pitching trio of Kelsey Gross, Morgan Rackel and Kelly Mardones held the Eagles (2-35, 0-17 OVC) to just six hits and two runs in the two games.

The Govs will closeout the home part of their 2019 regular-season schedule versus Eastern Kentucky Sunday, 1:00pm, which will also be Senior Day for the Govs six seniors, Natalie Schilling, Kelly Mardones, Morgan Rackel, Carly Mattson, Kacy Acree and Danielle Liermann.

Game 1

Austin Peay 10, Morehead State 2

After a scoreless first inning, the Govs sent 11 batters to the plate in the second inning, scoring seven of them on five hits, a walk and two hit batters.

Highlighting the inning was a bases-loaded triple by Brooke Pfefferle, to drive in the first three runs, while Acree and Rackel collected on RBI singles and Liermann drove in two with a single.

The Eagles would score their only runs of the day in the top of the third inning, to make it 7-2, but that would be as close as they would get, as Gross (5-1) retired six of the final seven batters she faced in picking up her third straight wins in as many starts.

Gross would also help her self at the plate, hitting a two-run homer in the bottom of the third, while Lexi Osowski ended the game with an RBI single for the 10-2 final margin.

Game 2

Austin Peay 10, Morehead State 0

Rackel (19-5) and Mardones combined for a one-hit shutout in the nightcap versus the Eagles, with Rackel picking up her 12th straight win without a loss, while the Govs offense recorded 11 hits in scoring their 10 runs.

Austin Peay used the long-ball to score its first two runs, with Liermann homering in the first inning and Emily Moore in the second for a 2-0 lead.

The Govs would then break the game open with three runs in the third, the first coming on a single by Rackel, while the other two came in a two-run homer by Osowski, to make it 5-0.

After a scoreless fourth inning, the Govs would closeout the game’s scoring with two runs in the fifth inning – on a single by Pfefferle and a three-run homer by Liermann, her second of the game, to end the contest, 10-0.

Inside the Boxscore

With her second-inning run in Game 1, Kacy Acree passed APSU Athletics Hall of Famer Andera Miller (1993-96) to become the program’s all-time leader in runs scored with 131.

With her two home runs in Game 2, Danielle Liermann sets a school record for most home runs hit in a single season with 17.

In winning both games versus Morehead State, the 2019 senior class became the winningest class of seniors in program history (92 wins).

The two wins guarantee the Govs will finish the season with a winning record, marking the first time since the 1988-89 seasons where the Govs have posted back-to-back winning seasons.

Kacy Acree moved into third-place alone in career base hits (202) with her second-inning single in Game 1.

With her four walks in the doubleheader, Carly Mattson moves into a tie with former Gov Kayla Davidson (2011-14) for fourth-place all-time in career walks, with 64.

The combined shutout by Morgan Rackel and Kelly Mardones was the first for the Govs since the same pair turned the trick versus Morehead State last season in the OVC Tournament.

In collecting 10 extra-base hits versus Morehead State, the Govs tie the program’s all-time team record for most extra-base hits in a season with 122.

APSU Head Coach Kassie Stanfill Statements

On the official dedication ceremony for Cathi Maynard Softball Park
“The dedication ceremony was wonderful way to start the day, and it was great to have Cathi here to throw out the first pitch. The Maynard family has done so much for our program and the athletics department, we can’t thank them enough for all that they do for us.”

On the team’s all-around success in the victories
“We came out today and played the way we what to play Govs softball. We had great at bats, with good approaches at the plate, with good aggressiveness. We got to use all three pitchers, who all threw well and used their defense behind them and our defense in turn continued to play some of their best softball of the season.”

On a big matchup versus Eastern Kentucky on Senior Day
“Sunday is going to be a big day for us, not only became it’s Senior Day, but also became we’re going to be facing a quality opponent in Eastern Kentucky. We are coming into the games with a lot of momentum on our side and I know of team wants to send our seniors out with a couple of wins in front of a huge crowd of our fans.”

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