CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. ? Austin Peay's softball team won its first Ohio Valley Conference game of the season Sunday, 2-1, against Tennessee State -- in Game 1 of a doubleheader -- but missed a golden opportunity to win a second,  as a four-run lead disappear in a 7-6 loss, in the nightcap.

Austin Peay (7-24, 1-7 OVC) got a pitching gem from Ashley Elrod in the opener, as the senior limited the Lady Tigers to two hits and three walks, while striking out a team season-best 10 hitters.

Tennessee State (13-14, 5-4 OVC) starter Megan Hedrick would match Elrod's effort for the first four innings, with the game being deadlocked 0-0.

But the Lady Govs bats would come to life in the fifth, as Brittany Williams flared a one-out single just inside the left-field line to get things going.

Williams would score from first on a triple to right-center field by Tiffany Smith, who then scored herself on a single up the middle from Ashley Alverson for the 2-0 lead.

TSU would cut the margin in half in the top of the sixth, when Royesha Goodman singled in pinch runner Kristin Powell with a two-out single up the middle.

Elrod would take it from there, setting down the final four Lady Tigers hitters she faced for the win.

In Game 2, it looked like another pitchers duel early on with Tennessee State holding lead a 2-1 lead through four and a half innings of play, but Austin Peay would load the bases on three straight singles by Alverson, Krista Henke and Randal Davenport to open the fifth inning.

Alverson would score to tie the game 2-2 on an error by third baseman Brittany Webb on a ground ball by Samantha Butts.

The Lady Govs would take their first lead of the game 3-2 one batter latter, when Ashley Taylor walked, driving in Henke.

Tennessee State would make its second error of the inning on a throwing error by shortstop Bridget Metger, who's throw home on a ground ball by Catie Cozart was wide allowing Davenport and Butts to score making it 5-2.

Daniella Hooper would score Taylor on a sacrifice fly to center make the score 6-2 Lady Govs.

Tennessee State would answer right back, as Caitlin Eaton opened the top of the sixth with her ninth home run of the season out to dead centerfield making it 6-3.

Goodman would follow with a single -- and after a walk to Tamara Perkins ? Elrod, who came in for APSU starter Abby Mabry ? was relieved by Ashley Bolda.

Bolda was welcomed into the game by a single by Christy Hill, but got the next hitter to ground out, for the first out of the inning.

Melanie Cruz then scored Perkins on an infield single make it 6-4.

Bolda would then strikeout Jennifer Culberson for the second out and get ahead of Metger in the count 1-2.

But Metger fouled off several pitches, before slicing a double just inside the line in right field bring in two runners and tying the game 6-6.

Webb would follow with a single scoring Cruz and giving the lead back to Tennessee State 7-6.

Austin Peay would threat in the bottom of the sixth getting runners and first and third with two outs, but couldn't come up with the game tying hit.

-AP-