CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – Austin Peay State University's softball team ended a four-game losing streak, Friday at the Frost Classic, defeating Radford 3-1 in its opening game before falling to Ohio in the nightcap, 5-2.

The Lady Govs (3-9) took the lead over the Highlanders in the bottom of the second inning on a two-run single by Kayla Davidson, driving in Mel Pavel and Amanda De Vries – who both reached base via base on balls.

That would be all the runs that the Lady Govs would need, as Lauren de Castro and Allie Blackwood combined to limit Radford (1-1) to just three hits and one run, with de Castro improving her record on the season to 3-3 and Blackwood recording her first save.

Austin Peay would tack on a run in the bottom of the third, with de Castro getting on with a one-out single and scoring all the way around from first base on a double by Niya Sparks.

Rikki Arkansas led Austin Peay with three hits against the Highlanders, with de Castro picking up a pair of hits.

In the late game versus Ohio (9-1), Austin Peay took advantage on an early Bobcat error to score a run in the top of the first inning.

Davidson would lead-off the game with a ground ball to third, but the Ohio first baseman Alexandria Basquez dropped the ball – with Davidson moving to second base.

After a sacrifice moved Davidson to third, she would score on a single to center field by Kristin Whitmire.

Ohio would respond in the bottom of the inning with four runs on four hits off Lady Gov starter Brianna Bartuccio – highlighted by a two-run double by Basquez.

Bartuccio would settle down after the opening inning, allowing the Bobcats to collect only one more run over their final five at bats – that coming in the bottom of the fifth.

The Lady Govs final run of the day came in the top of the sixth inning, with Laurel Burroughs opening the inning by getting to second base when Ohio made two errors on one play.

An out later, Burroughs would score on a single by de Castro, who led the Lady Govs with three hits against the Bobcats.

The Lady Govs continue play in the Frost Classic on Saturday, as they face Campbell at 12:30 p.m. (CT), followed by a matchup versus Toledo at 3 p.m. (CT).

Both Toledo and Campbell went 1-1 on Day 1 in the Frost Classic.

--AP--