CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. - Austin Peay's softball team dug itself an early hole that it couldn't get out of Sunday afternoon in the final round of games in the Play It Again Sports/Austin Peay Classic, as the Lady Govs were defeated by IUPUI, 6-1, at Lady Govs Field.

Austin Peay (1-4) took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning on a two-out triple off the left field fence by junior Tiffany Smith, scoring senior Brittany Williams - who reached on a bloop single to short left field right before Smith's at bat.

The Jaguars (2-3) answered back in the bottom of the second inning with a three-run home run by Chelsie Hale, over the left field fence, scoring Alicia Garrison - who opened the inning with an infield single - and pinch runner Kelsey Rupert, who came in for Amy Raker, who reached base with a walk.

Austin Peay's defense would let them down in the third inning, as Williams and freshman Jordan Cole had back-to-back throwing errors to open the inning, with both runners scoring two batters later on a single by Garrison, to make it 5-1.

The Jaguars would tack on a run later in the inning to make it 6-1, when Lady Govs senior pitcher Abby Mabry was called for an illegal pitch.

Austin Peay would have some chances to get back into the game, putting runners in scoring position in the sixth, while loading the bases in the seventh, but couldn't come up with the big hit to drive any of those runners in.

In fact, the Lady Govs outhit IUPUI 7-5, but left nine runners stranded on the bases in the contest.

Smith would lead the Lady Govs with two hits, while Williams, Cole, junior Randal Davenport, sophomore Amy Mills and freshman Tia Johnson had the other Lady Govs hits.

--AP--