CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. ? Any chance that the Austin Peay softball team may have had in working its way back into contention to earning a berth in the Ohio Valley Conference post season tournament may have disappeared Saturday afternoon, as the Lady Govs were swept by Southeast Missouri 4-1 and 6-5, in nine innings.
Austin Peay (12-31, 2-13 OVC) knew at worst they needed to come away with two wins out of the three games in this weekend's series with the Redhawks, but saw that chance disappear with Southeast Missouri (17-19, 6-8 OVC) rallying from a 5-1 deficit in its final nine outs of regulation play.
After being limited to three hits in Game 1, Austin Peay erupted for three runs in the second inning of Game 2, with Krista Henke driving in Jessica Ryan with a single and Ashley Taylor doubling in Detra Farley and Henke.
The Redhawks would answer back with a runs of its own in the bottom of the second on a single by Carmen Fowler making it 3-1.
It didn't take long for the Lady Govs to get that run back, as Catie Cozart hit her first home run of the season deep over the right field fence to give Austin Peay back its three-run margin, 4-1.
Austin Peay would make it 5-1 in the fourth on a RBI single, driving in Farley, but that would be it for the Lady Govs offense on the day, as they managed two hits over the game's final 5 1/3 innings.
That left the door open for SEMO, as the Redhawks chipped away at the Lady Govs lead scoring once in the fifth inning to make it 5-2, while tallying three runs in the sixth to tie the game at 5-5.
Southeast Missouri would score the game winner in the bottom of the ninth, as Renee Kertz had a one-out single up the middle and moved to third when APSU's Ashley Alverson's throw to second on a ball hit by Shelby Stein was wide of the bag for a throwing error.
Austin Peay then intentionally walked Alex Ramirez to load the bases, setting up a force out at any base.
Nicole Troncoso then lined out to APSU pitcher Abby Mabry for the second out, but Mabry walked Lauren Bradley on a 3-2 pitch away bringing in Kertz with the game-winning run.
In Game 1, Austin Peay starting pitcher Ashley Elrod pitched in and out of trouble in both of the first two innings against Southeast Missouri, but couldn't get off the hook in the third.
A two-out double down the left field line by Bradley scored pinch runner Sirena Watkins ? who had come in for Ramirez ? who reached with a one-out walk.
The Redhawks would add two runs to their lead in the fourth ? aided by two Austin Peay errors.
SEMO's Fowler opened the inning with a single and moved to second on a sacrifice and third on a passed ball, then scored when Kertz's fly ball to right was dropped by Samantha Butts.
Stein would follow with a bunt single, with Kertz moving all the way around to third when the throw to first got away from Williams, who was covering the base on bunt coverage.
Ramirez would then single, scoring Kertz making it 3-0 SEMO.
Austin Peay, whose offense had been limited to two Taylor walks through the first four innings, would get its first hit of the game in the fifth on Cozart's single through the right side of the infield, but couldn't muster anything following the hit.
Southeast Missouri would tack on a run in the fifth, on a two-out single just inside the right field line by Kertz, scoring Fowler making it 4-0.
Austin Peay would score its lone run in the sixth, as Taylor opened the inning with a single to center field -- and after a sacrifice bunt and a infield out moved her to third -- scored on a single down the left field line by Daniella Hooper.
-AP-
