CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – A late-inning two-run homer by Christiana Gable backed a three-hit pitching performance by Natalie Ayala, Wednesday, as Austin Peay State University's softball team defeated Eastern Kentucky, 3-1, in Game 1 of its Ohio Valley Conference doubleheader at Cheryl Holt Field before falling in the nightcap, 10-5.

With the scored tied 1-1 heading into the bottom of the sixth in the opener, Austin Peay (9-31, 5-16 OVC) received a lead-off double from Laurel Burroughs, putting the go-head run into scoring position, with no outs.

That brought up Christiana Gable, who had doubled in the sixth inning. This time she blasted a 2-2 pitch over the center field fencel for a two-run homer, giving the Lady Govs a 3-1 lead.

That proved to be more than enough for Ayala (5-12), who capped a three-hit complete-game victory by setting the Colonels (21-23, 11-7 OVC) down in order in the top of the seventh to seal the Austin Peay victory.

Ayala, along with just giving up three hits, didn't walk a batter and struck out three. She needed only 75 total pitches to record her seventh complete game this season.

Leanna Pittsenbarger (9-10) took the loss for EKU, giving up six hits and one walk while striking out seven.

Austin Peay broke a 0-0 deadlock in the bottom of the fifth inning. Marissa Lake reached on a one-out bunt single and then scoring all the way  from first base on a triple to straight away center field by Rikki Arkansas.

Eastern Kentucky tied the game in the top of the sixth inning on an RBI double by Sarah Fobbs, driving in Paige Murphy, who had tripled.

In Game 2, things began well for Austin Peay, jumping out to a 4-2 lead after three innings. But the Lady Govs were touched for eight runs over the final four innings while being held to a seventh-inning home run by Morgan Hoeg.

The Lady Govs scored two first-inning unearned runs, with Sidney Hooper picking up an RBI with a single.

EKU answered with an RBI single by Shannon McQueen in the top of the second to make it 2-1, but Austin Peay matched the run in its half of the inning on an Arkansas steal of home.

A RBI double by Murphy in the top of the third inning got EKU back to within one, 3-2, but Hoeg matched the run in the bottom of the inning, scoring on a wild pitch.

But that is when the Colonels get their offense rolling, hitting three home runs over the next two innings, highlighted by McQueen's three-run shot to put EKU ahead 7-4.

Eastern Kentucky closed out its scoring with three more runs in the top of the seventh, with Krislyn Campos, Fobbs and Kayla Joyce picking up RBIs.

Hayley Flynn (4-5) got the win in relief of EKU starter Shaylon Robb, going the final 5.1 innings and giving up two runs on three hits while striking out five and walking three.

Sidney Hooper (2-10) took the loss of Austin Peay.

--AP--