Cookeville, Tenn. ? Austin Peay's softball team kept Ohio Valley Conference co-leader Tennessee Tech close in their two games on Saturday, but its season long struggle to score runs -- along with a couple of key errors -- proved to be the difference, as the Lady Govs dropped both ends of a doubleheader to the Golden Eagles, 4-1 and 3-2.

Austin Peay (6-21, 0-4 OVC) only managed seven hits on the day against Tennessee Tech (15-15, 4-0 OVC), and with its offense coming sparingly, that makes the margin of error very thin for the Lady Govs.

Defense, which had been a problem early in the season -- but better of late -- took a step back on Saturday as the Golden Eagles took advantage of three of the Lady Govs four errors in the doubleheader to score runs.

The Golden Eagles took advantage of a throwing error by Lady Govs starting pitcher Ashley Elrod in the sixth inning of the first game to score two runs and push its 2-1 lead out to 4-1.

In Game 2, a throwing error by Austin Peay starting pitcher Ashley Bolda, in the first inning off a sacrifice bunt, allowed Tennessee Tech to get out to an early 2-0 lead.

Austin Peay would cut the Golden Eagles lead to 2-1 in the third inning, when sophomore Randal Davenport scored on a fielder's choice by freshman Catie Cozart.

Tennessee Tech would add a run to go up 3-1 in the bottom of the fourth inning on a single by Kaleigh Gates scoring pinch runner Brooke Basten.

Austin Peay would cut the Tech lead to 3-2 in the top of the sixth inning on a long single to right-center field by junior Daniella Hooper, scoring sophomore Ashley Alverson ? who had singled -- all the way from first. But that was as close as the Lady Govs would get.

After Tennessee Tech had jumped out 2-0 on the Lady Govs in Game 1, Austin Peay's lone run came in the top of the third inning on a fielder's choice by freshman Catie Cozart, with junior Ashley Taylor scoring.

The two teams will conclude their three-game OVC series Sunday with a single game, starting at 1 p.m.

-AP-