Tennessee-Martin 4, Austin Peay 3 (9 innings)

CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. ? A ninth-inning rally came up a run short for Austin Peay's softball team Thursday, as the Lady Govs lost an Ohio Valley Conference game to Tennessee-Martin, 4-3.

Austin Peay (12-33, 2-15 OVC) trailed for the first time in the game in the top of the ninth inning, as Greer Long hit a three-run home run for the Skyhawks (29-19, 9-8 OVC) giving them a 4-1 lead, following a two-out hit by Savannah Roberts and a error by APSU second baseman Brittany Williams on Laurie Lindow's groundball that would have ended the inning.

The Lady Govs wouldn't go down without a fight in the bottom of the ninth, as sophomore Samantha Butts reached on an error by Tennessee-Martin's first baseman Chelsea Cary, which was followed by a single up the middle by sophomore Randal Davenport.

After pinch hitter Jessica Ryan struck out for the second out of the inning, junior Daniella Hooper would pick up her third hit of the game, a single to right, bringing in Butts making it 4-2.

Ashley Taylor, who hit her second home run of the season in the fifth inning to give the Lady Govs a 1-0 lead, doubled to right center bringing in Davenport and moving Hooper to third.

But the Lady Govs couldn't come up with that final big hit, as sophomore Ashley Alverson popped up to short to end the game.

The Skyhawks tied the game 1-1 in the top of the seventh, as Megan Williams led off with a triple to right center and an out later scored on Lindow's single up the middle.
Austin Peay missed chances in each of the first three innings to get on the scoreboard early, as the Lady Govs left runners stranded at third in the first and second inning, while leaving the bases loaded in the third.

Ashley Bolda, who didn't allow a Tennessee-Martin runner past first base through the first six innings, took the loss for Austin Peay -- going the full nine innings -- giving up eight hits, striking out three and walking none.

Tennessee-Martin also got a complete game from Kara Harper, giving up seven hits and two walks, while striking out five.

-AP-