Clarksville, TN – The Austin Peay State University (APSU) softball team opens its third Atlantic Sun Conference season with a trio of games against Bellarmine, Thursday-Friday, at Knights Field in Louisville, Kentucky. The Governors begin the series with a Thursday 2:00pm CT contest, before facing the Knights in a doubleheader beginning Friday at 1:00pm.
Austin Peay (22-3) currently enters league play on the second-longest active winning in the country at 19 games. That program-record streak, which began with a 6-4 win against Tarleton State, February 14th, trails only No. 1 Oklahoma’s 25-game stretch that dates back to last season’s Women’s College World Series.
It also is seven games longer than the previous mark, which APSU set during the 2018 campaign. The Governors’ 22 wins this season also are the 13th-most in the program’s 40-year history.
Led by one of the nation’s most potent offenses, APSU leads the ASUN and ranks Top 25 in the NCAA in runs per game (7.4, 20th), home runs (34, 21st), hits (232, 13th), and doubles (46, 8th).
The APSU Govs’ offense has been paced by senior utility Kylie Campbell, who leads the team in hits (35), doubles (9), triples (4), batting average (.449), slugging percentage (.821), and on-base percentage (.495).
A Ninety Six, South Carolina native, Campbell is coming off back-to-back three-hit performances against UMass Lowell and Appalachian State last Saturday and Sunday, respectively. She also hit the game-winning home run, leading APSU to a 4-3 victory against Appalachian State, in what was the lone game of the weekend that was not a run-rule decision.
Campbell is one of eight Governors with multiple home runs this season, and one of four has at least four. APSU’s long-ball offense is led by Katie Raper and Sam Leski’s seven, and followed by Kiley Hinton’s six. Leski and Raper’s seven home runs are best for 53rd nationally and second in the ASUN, while Hinton’s mark ranks fifth in the league.
Despite having a career-best 15-game hitting streak come to an end last time out against the Mountaineers, sophomore Brie Howard currently has still reached base in a career-long 18-straight games, dating back to February 14th. The Burlison, Tennessee native had six hits at last weekend’s Cathi Maynard Invitation while batting third and starting in center field across each contest.
Led by seventh-year and the winningest head coach in program history, Kassie Stanfill is 173-129 at Austin Peay. In addition to leading the Governors to the best start to a season in program history, Stanfill also helped lead the program to its first ranked win following a 5-3 victory against No. 22 Florida Atlantic, March 1st, during the Governors Classic.
This weekend’s games will not be live-streamed on ESPN+.
Between the Lines
Austin Peay State University’s 22 wins this season are tied for the fifth-most in the NCAA.
Austin Peay State University’s 19-game winning streak, 10 more than that of Eastern Kentucky’s nine-game streak.
Austin Peay State University is 13-9 all-time against Bellarmine and has won five of the last six meetings against the Knights.
The Governors face the Knights in Louisville for the first time since defeating them 8-2 (4/14/92).
During its 19-game winning streak, the Governors are outscoring opponents 140-42, or by 5.16 runs per game.
Samantha Miener and Emberly lead Austin Peay’s pitching staff with seven wins this season, while Ashley Martin is 2-0 on the season with a team-best 1.89 ERA and five saves – tied for the most in a single-season in program history.
About the Bellarmine Knights
The Bellarmine Knights are sixth in the ASUN Gold Division and 12th in the league as a whole with four wins.
Bellarmine has dropped three-straight games entering ASUN play.
The Knights’ last win came in a 5-1 victory against Butler, March 2nd at the Make It Happen Games in Madeira Beach, Florida.
Senior infielder Harlie Brickett leads Bellarmine with 11 hits, five doubles, and seven RBI.
Senior Claire Lehmkuhler leads Bellarmine’s pitching staff with two wins across 33.0 innings pitched, while Kelsie Houchens paces the team with a 3.2 ERA in 30.2 innings of work in the circle.
Follow #Team40 on Socials
For news and updates throughout the 2025 Austin Peay State University softball season, follow the Governors on X and Instagram (@GovsSB) or check back at LetsGoPeay.com for stories and schedule updates.
Next Up For APSU Softball
The Austin Peay State University softball team’s first of three midweek games during league play takes them to the River City, where they face Southern Indiana in a Wednesday 3:00pm contest at the USI Softball Field in Evansville, Indiana.
