CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. - Austin Peay State University's softball team will open its fall schedule under new head coach Stephanie Paris this Friday and Saturday. It will play four games at the Tennessee Martin Fall Classic.

For Paris, who became the seventh head coach in program history in July, it will be a homecoming of sorts as she played second base for the Skyhawks during the 2002 and 2003 seasons, earning All-OVC honorable mention after the 2002 campaign.

The Lady Govs will open play in the 18-team tournament versus Chattanooga State Community College, starting at 6 p.m., at the Martin Recreation Complex, which will be followed by an 8 p.m. nightcap game versus Freed Hardeman.

Both games on Friday will be played on Field 1 at the complex.

On Saturday, Austin Peay faces Rend Lake Community College, at 11 a.m., and concludes play at 1 p.m. versus Union University. Saturday's games will be on Field 3 at the complex.

The Lady Govs return 10 players from last year's team that went 19-31 overall, and 10-20 in Ohio Valley Conference play, including OVC first-team member Lauren de Castro, a junior pitcher/first baseman from Torrance, Calf., and second-team members Morgan Brewer, a senior pitcher/utility from Collierville, and Paige Neely, a sophomore infielder from Nashville.

The 10 returnees will be joined by nine newcomers, who will be seeing their first action in an Austin Peay uniform.

Admission to the tournament is $5 per person.
-AP-