MACON, Ga. ?Austin Peay was limited to just one hit, but had its chances against Nicholls State (4-6), as the Lady Govs came up one run short, falling 2-1.

Trailing 2-0 in the top of the fourth inning, sophomore right fielder Beth Carr opened the inning drawing a walk and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by junior second baseman Krista Henke. Sophomore first baseman Krista New then walked, giving Austin Peay runners at first and second with one out.

After a strike out by junior pinch hitter Meagan Williams for the second out of the inning, sophomore third baseman Ashley Taylor doubled into left-center field driving in Carr to cut the deficit in half, 2-1.

Taylor's double was the only hit of the game for the Lady Govs.

The rally ended there, as sophomore shortstop Brittany Williams fouled out to the third baseman to end the threat.

Nicholls State scored its first run in the bottom of the third inning on a home run the center field by Kathyrn Harrell, while adding a second run in the fourth inning on a two-out hit by Nicole Smith.

The game also marked the return of redshirt sophomore pitcher Ashley Elrod, who missed all but four games last year with a broken wrist.

Elrod (0-1) would throw a complete game giving up just three hits, while strike out three and walking three.

In Game 2, No. 15 Mississippi State (12-1) scored in four of its six at bats, as the Bulldogs defeated Austin Peay 12-4, in a game called in the bottom of the sixth inning due to the eight-run rule.

Mississippi State collected 12 hits against Lady Govs starter Meagan Williams (0-1), but was also aided by four APSU errors.

Williams broke up a perfect game by Bulldogs starter Kelsey Nurnberg (7-0), with one out in the top of the fifth inning, with her first career home run. She would also add an RBI sac fly in the sixth.

Beth Carr and Ashley Alverson added singles, with Tiffany Smith had a double for APSU.