CLEARWATER, Fla. - Austin Peay never got its offense going Saturday at the University of South Florida Under Armor Invitational, as the Lady Govs dropped two games without scoring a run, losing to Florida Gulf Coast 10-0 - in five innings - and 8-0 to Jacksonville.

In Game 1, any chance Austin Peay's softball team had of winning versus Florida Gulf Coast disappeared in one inning, when the Eagles broke open a 2-0 game by scoring eight times on seven hits in the fourth inning, with the two big blows of the inning coming by way of a three-run double by Jessica Gary and a two-run home run by Courtney Platt.

Florida Gulf Coast had broken out on top in the second inning 2-0 on a two-run home run by Cat McDaniel, which brought in Hayley O'Mara, who had opened the inning by drawing a walk against Lady Govs starter Morgan Brewer.

Austin Peay has just missed a golden opportunity to score in the bottom of the first inning, when leadoff hitter junior Tiffany Smith started the inning off with a double to left center field, but couldn't advance with the next three Lady Govs going down in order.

Austin Peay also would get a runner into scoring position in the bottom of the second inning, with freshman Jordan Cole reaching with two outs -- after being hit by a pitch -- and then stole second, but freshman Shine Huwe flew out to deep right field to end the threat.

Smith would lead the Lady Govs with two hits, while red-shirt freshman Shelby Norton had the other hit for Austin Peay.

Game 2, didn't get much better for the Lady Govs with Jacksonville scoring one run in each of the first six innings and capped off its night with two runs in the seventh.

Austin Peay on the other hand only collected three hits - all singles - from seniors Brittany Williams and Detra Farley, with red-shirt freshman Shelby Norton recording the other hit.

The Lady Govs conclude play at the Under Armor Invitational Sunday, 8 a.m., with a game versus Wagner.

--AP--