Bowling Green, KY – The Austin Peay State University (APSU) softball team would post a school single-game record of 20 hits in its 10-3 victory over IUPUI, Saturday morning at the WKU Softball Complex in Day 2 of the Western Kentucky Hilltopper Spring Fling, before seeing a late rally fall short versus Illinois State, 5-4.
Austin Peay State University 10, IUPUI 3
The Govs would start their day’s scoring early-on, as Brooke Pfefferle opened the game with an infield single move to third on a single by Lexi Osowski and score on a single by Shelby Harpe.
After holding the Jaguars scoreless in the bottom of the inning, Austin Peay State University broke the game open in the second, scoring five hits on seven hits.
Emily Moore would get things going with her first home run of the season to lead off the inning, with Drew Dudley and Emily Harkleroad picking up singles sandwiched around an infield popup for an out.
Osowski and Harpe would then record back-to-back doubles, with Osowski driving in Dudley and Harpe scoring Harkleroad and Osowski to make it 5-0, with the final run of the inning coming two batters later off a double by Brett Jackson with scored pinch runner Riley Suites.
The score would remain that way until the bottom of the sixth when IUPUI scored a run to get on the board to make it 6-1.
But any hope of a comeback for the Jaguars was buried in the top of the seventh, as the APSU Govs scored four insurance runs.
Pfefferle would open the inning with a triple down the right field line and after an infield single by Harkleroad, scored on a double by Osowski.
Harpe would drive in Harkleroad on an error by the IUPUI shortstop, while Osowski scored on an error on a throw home after a Dudley single.
The final run of the inning scored on a sacrifice fly by pinch hitter Victoria Eccleston, scoring Harpe.
IUPUI would score two runs in the bottom of the seventh for the 10-3 final.
Illinois State 5, Austin Peay State University 4
The Govs would never lead in the contest, giving up a run in the first, three more in the third and a final run in the sixth to the Redbirds (9-8) to go down 5-0.
But after being held to just two hits over the first six inning, the Govs bats would come to life in the top of the seventh.
Moore would lead off the inning with her second home run of the day, to get Austin Peay State University on the board, followed by a walk to Morgan McMahon and a single from Kelsey Gray to bring up the top of the lineup, with no outs.
After a groundout moved the runners up a base each, Harkleroad singed in pinch runner Katie Keen to make it 5-2, followed by a Osowski groundout that scored Gray and a wild pitch which allowed Harkleroad to score to cut the deficit to one, 5-4.
But that would be as close as the Govs would get as Harpe was called out on strikes to end the game.
Inside the Boxscore
The 20 hits versus IUPUI broke the old mark of 19 hits in a single game that was set versus Trevecca on February 16th, 2013.
All nine starters for APSU versus IUPUI recorded at least one hit.
Emily Harkleroad recorded a career single-game high four hits versus IUPUI, which also marked the first time a Govs hitter recorded at least four hits in a game since Kelsey Gross versus SIU Edwardsville on May 5th, 2019.
The 10 runs scored versus IUPUI is the most scored by APSU in a single game since they scored 10 versus SIUE on May 5th, 2019.
With home runs in both games, Emily Moore became the first APSU Gov to have home runs in back-to-back games since Danielle Liermann, who did it versus Belmont and Tennessee State on March 29th and 31st, 2019.
APSU Coach Kassie Stanfill Statements
On the team’s late rally versus Illinois State
“Our team never quit fighting and battled until the game’s final pitch and that is something that we can build on and carry with us as we prepare for our game Sunday with IUPUI.”
Next Up For APSU Softball
The Austin Peay State University softball team will conclude their play at the Spring Fling tournament, 11:00am, Sunday as they play in the consolation game versus IUPUI.
