CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. ? Austin Peay's softball team saw Southern Illinois Edwardsville get its leadoff runner on base in six out of seven innings -- a situation that the Cougars took advantage of -- in a 7-1 win Friday at Lady Govs Field.

Austin Peay (10-29) and starting pitcher Ashley Elrod was able wriggle out of the first two innings without giving up a run, but Southern Illinois Edwardsville (32-7) didn't miss out in its third chance.

The Cougars Courtney Mall led off the third inning with a double to centerfield and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Kasey Schlafke, which was followed by Lauren Zembruski being hit by a pitch. Nicole Beecher would single through the right side scoring Mall making it 1-0.

Austin Peay would make the first of its three errors on the day on the next play, as Lindsay Longfellow singled to left, but Lady Govs leftfielder Tiffany Smith had the ball get by her allowing Zembruski and Beecher to score, giving the Cougars a 3-0 lead.

That would be all the runs that SIUE starter Erika Taylor would need, as she held the Lady Govs to one run on four hits, while striking out nine and walking none.

Southern Illinois Edwardsville would add two more runs in the top of the fourth with Ellese Lawrence being hit by a pitch to open the inning and scored two outs later on Mall's home run over the right field fence.

SIUE would make it 6-0 in the fifth with Zembruski drawing a walk to open the inning and two outs later scoring on a single by Brianna Fulginiti,

Austin Peay would score its lone run in the bottom of the fifth on second baseman Brittany Williams' home run over the left-center field fence ? her second of the season.

The Cougars would score its final run in the sixth, as Chaleen Rumpf opened the inning with a double and scored on a throwing error by APSU first baseman Ashley Alverson.

Junior Daniella Hooper had two hits on the day for Austin Peay ? both doubles ? while Elrod had the other Lady Govs hit, a single in the third inning.

The second game of the scheduled doubleheader was cancelled; because of having to push the start of Game 1 back an hour due to wet field conditions.

-AP-