CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. - Austin Peay and Tennessee State split a pair of shutouts in their Ohio Valley Conference doubleheader at Lady Govs Field, Thursday night, with Austin Peay winning the nightcap 8-0 - in five innings - after Tennessee State took the opener, 1-0.

Austin Peay (7-23, 2-8 OVC) broke things open early in Game 2, scoring five runs on four hits in the second inning, while also taking advantage of three Tennessee State errors.

Red-shirt sophomore Shelby Norton got things started for the Lady Govs by leading off the inning with a double off the centerfield wall and scored one out later on sophomore Morgan Brewer's first home run this season, a shot that carried deep over the left field fence.

Tennessee State (8-28, 2-11 OVC) shortstop Tedra Alford had the first of three TSU errors in the inning on a ground ball off the bat of red-shirt sophomore Jessica Ryan, who then moved into scoring position on a wild pitch.

Tiger third baseman Ashley Haynes committed the inning's second error, throwing wide of first base on a sacrifice bunt by senior Randal Davenport, with Davenport advancing to second and Ryan scoring to make it 3-0.

Freshman Lauren de Castro then singled and reached second on TSU's third error of the inning, this time a misplay by Tigers' left fielder Jasmine Brimm, which allowed Davenport to score for a 4-0 advantage.

Junior Catie Cozart followed with a single, with de Castro advancing to third, and scored the inning's fifth and final run on a sacrifice fly to deep left by junior Amy Mills.

That would be all that Brewer would need, as the Lady Govs starter won her third straight decision by limiting the Tigers to four hits, striking out seven and walking three.

Austin Peay would add two more runs in the bottom of the third, to go up 7-0, on Ryan's third home run of the season, which drove in Norton, who had opened the inning by drawing a walk.

The Lady Govs final run came in the bottom of the fifth, when Brewer flared a no-out, bases-loaded single into short left field, scoring pinch runner Jessi Holland for the 8-0 final margin.

Brewer would lead the Lady Govs with two hits and three RBI, while Ryan had two RBI and two runs scored.

In the opener the Lady Govs and Tigers tied into an old-fashioned pitcher duel, with Tennessee State scoring the game's only run in the top in the top of the second inning on Jalisa Bradley's third home run of the season to deep left field.

That spoiled a solid pitching performance from de Castro, who limited the Tigers to four hits in her 6.3 innings of work that saw her strike out a career-best six batters while walking three. 

--AP--