APSU Softball sweeps Trevecca

Clarksville, TN – Austin Peay State University (APSU) softball freshman Shelby Harpe hit a walk-off two-run homer in Game 1, Saturday at Cathi Maynard Park-Cheryl Holt Field, help lift the Governors to a sweep of the Trevecca Nazarene University Trojans, by 7-6 and 8-7 finals.

The game-winning homer by Harpe was the only home run hit by either team in the doubleheader.

Game 1

Austin Peay 7, Trevecca 6

Austin Peay fell behind early, as the Trojans jumped on the Govs starter Kelsey Gross for three runs in the top of the first inning.

But the Govs responded with one run of their own in the bottom of the inning, on a single by Gross, before tying the game 3-3 in the third inning on a sacrifice fly by Lexi Osowski and an RBI single by Gross.

The Govs would take their first lead of the game in the bottom of the fourth on an RBI single by Brooke Pfefferle, followed by a run-scoring double by Bailey Shorter to make it 5-3 APSU.

Trevecca would benefit from some sixth-inning wildness by Harpe — who came in to relieve Gross in the fifth –  by taking advantage of a walk and a hit batter to help score three runs to retake the lead, 6-5.

Down to their last three outs and trailing by one, Osowski opened the bottom of the seventh with her second base hit of the day, with Harpe following two pitches later with an opposite-field home run over the left field wall for the game-winning walk-off hit and the 7-6 victory.

Game 2

Austin Peay 8, Trevecca 7

Austin Peay jumped on Trevecca for six first inning runs in the nightcap, highlighted by a two-run double by Gross and a two-run single by Emily Moore, with Drew Dudley and Emily Harkleroad picking up the other two runs on sacrifice flies.

The Trojans would score single runs in the second and third innings to cut the Govs lead to 6-2 after three innings, with the Govs getting one of those runs back in the bottom of the fourth inning on Gross’ second double of the game – scoring Kendyl Weinzapfel, who had reached on a triple.

An error by Austin Peay would open the door for the Trevecca in the top of the fifth inning, as the Trojans scored four times to get to within one run of the Govs, 7-6.

Austin Peay would add an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth inning on a fielder’s chose by Harkleroad to extend its lead to 8-6.

Trevecca would score a final run in the top of the seventh to get to within one, 8-7, but Harley Mullins induced a foul out, with the base loaded, to end the game and secure the doubleheader sweep.

Inside the Boxscore

Red-shirt sophomore Emily Harkleroad saw her first action for the Govs since the 2018 season after missing all of the 2019 season due to an injury.

Shelby Harpe and Harley Mullins picked up wins in relief.

Kelsey Gross finished the doubleheader with five RBIs.

The Govs finished the doubleheader with six extra-base hits compared to just two for Trevecca.

Kelsey Gross struck out five Trojans in her four innings pitched in Game 1.

Next Up for APSU Softball

The APSU Governors return to action, 3:00pm, October 4th, when they host Wabash Valley College for a doubleheader.