CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. - Austin Peay State University's softball team will host Tennessee State on Wednesday, 6 p.m., at Lady Govs Field in a key Ohio Valley Conference contest between two teams fighting for a spot in the league's port-season tournament.

Austin Pay (13-25, 5-8 OVC) comes into the game playing it best softball of the season, having won six of its last eight games, including winning the last two conference weekends versus Southeast Missouri and Murray State.

Tennessee State (10-23, 5-8 OVC) comes in as a struggling, but dangerous team, having lost eight of its last 10 games since splitting a doubleheader with the Lady Govs on March 30, with the Lady Tigers winning the first game 5-2 before Austin Peay won the nightcap 5-4, in 10 innings.

Austin Peay is led offensively by senior Brittany Williams, who leads the Lady Govs in batting average (.305), runs (19), hits (36), RBI (18) and stolen bases (10). She also comes in with a team-long nine-game hitting streak.

Junior Tiffany Smith isn't far behind Williams, as she comes in with a .300 batting average, with a team-best 11 doubles and 20 walks to go with 12 runs and 14 RBI.

Austin Peay also hopes to see the continued offensive upswing from freshman Shine Huwe -- this week's OVC Player of the Week after hitting four home runs and driving in 13 RBI in six games last week, while red-shirt freshman Shelby Norton, sophomores Amy Mills and Catie Cozart along with freshman Jessica Chernak also come into the game having had solid performances at the plate last week.

Freshman righthander Morgan Brewer leads the Lady Govs pitching staff with a 9-7 overall win-loss mark, with a 2.81 ERA, while senior Abby Mabry is coming off her best week of the season going 3-1 with a 1.05 ERA last week.

TSU is led by Catlin Eaton's .322 batting average, with Brittany Webb (.310) and Bridget Metzger (.306) also hitting above .300 for the season. Hannah Schnebly leads the Lady Tiger pitching staff with a 5-6 record and a 3.87 ERA.

- AP -