RICHMOND, Ky. - Rallying from an early three-run deficit in the nightcap, the Lady Govs softball team earned a split in their Ohio Valley Conference doubleheader with Eastern Kentucky on Saturday, winning 5-4 - in eight innings in Game 2 - after dropping the opener 5-1, at Gertrude Hood Field.

Despite earning the split, Austin Peay (16-34, 8-13 OVC) will not make the OVC post-season tournament field, with Murray State splitting its doubleheader with Eastern Illinois and Tennessee Tech winning the first game on Saturday against Southeast Missouri.

Austin Peay junior Tiffany Smith would author what would be the game-winning hit in the top of the eighth inning by beating out an infield single and scoring senior Detra Farley from third, after she got the inning started with a one-out walk.

Eastern Kentucky (14-34, 8-14 OVC) got out to a 3-0 lead after the second inning in Game 2, but the Lady Govs rallied to score four times in the fourth inning to take a 4-3 lead, with senior Meagan Williams and freshman Shine Huwe collecting RBI pinch hits in the inning.

Freshman Morgan Brewer picked up the win in relief by going the final seven innings, while along with Smith recorded two hits to lead the Lady Govs.

Farley, red-shirt freshman Shelby Norton, sophomore Amy Mills also had hits for Austin Peay in the victory.

In Game 1 Austin Peay had its chances in the four-run loss, leaving eight runners on base - including six in scoring position - while the Colonels only had one good inning on offense by scoring three runs on five hits in the third inning.

Smith would once again lead the Lady Govs by collecting two hits in the opener - including APSU's only run with her second home run of the season in the fifth inning -- while Norton reached base three times on a hit by pitch and two walks.

Huwe, Mills, and sophomore Catie Cozart also collected hits in the first game.

--AP--