CLARKSVILLE. Tenn. – Austin Peay State University's softball team saw a four-run lead disappear in the final inning of Game 2 versus Southeast Missouri, Saturday, with the Lady Govs coming up short 6-5 after dropping the opener 8-1 at Cheryl Holt Field.
The Lady Govs (9-26, 5-21 OVC) led 5-1 heading into the final inning, having not given up a run since the top of the first inning, but pinch-hitter Jamie Woodworth opened the seventh inning with a double just inside the bag at first.
Alexis Anderson followed with an RBI single for SEMO (18-25, 11-12 OVC) to make it 5-2.
Savannah Carpenter collected the third straight hit for the Redhawks and moved to second – with Anderson going to third -- when left fielder Chandler Groves misplayed the ball.
APSU starter Allie Blackwood (1-4) got SEMO's leading hitter Kyla Fortner to groundout to third for the first out of the inning. The Redhawks then tallied their inning's second run when Morgan Hoeg attempted to throw out Anderson at the plate on a ground ball, but the throw was late making the score 5-3.
A walk to Riley Hayes loaded the bases for the Redhawks, followed by Austin Peay picking up the second out of the inning on a come-backer to Blackwood – who forced the lead runner at the plate.
Claire Wernig then collected the inning's big hit, flaring a sinking liner into center field, which Lady Govs center fielder Rikki Arkansas couldn't reach, winding up with a bases-clearing double and a 6-5 SEMO lead.
In the bottom of seventh, Austin Peay got the potential tying run on base with a lead-off single by Vinchenza DiBenedetto, but couldn't get advance her any further than second base.
Keaira Schilling (5-10) got the win, while Madeline Krumrey pitched the bottom of the seventh inning to pick up her second save of the year.
Southeast Missouri opened the game by picking up an unearned run in the top of the first inning, with Austin Peay tying the game in the bottom of the second inning on an RBI single by Ashley Eisenbraun.
Austin Peay took its first lead of the day in the third, with two runs coming in on an error by SEMO on a ground ball by DiBenedetto and an infield RBI single by Blackwood, making it 4-1.
Eisenbraun and Blackwood finished with two hits each to lead the Lady Govs.
The Lady Govs final run of the game came in the bottom of the fifth inning on an RBI single by Mel Pavel.
In Game 1, Austin Peay took an early 1-0 lead, with Groves scoring on an error off a ground ball by DiBenedetto in the first.
But that would be APSU's only run, with SEMO scoring two runs in the second, fourth and sixth innings, and single runs in the fifth and seventh innings.
Wernig led SEMO with three hits and three RBIs, while Lindsey Patterson collected three hits and scored three runs.
Krumrey (12-10) got the win, while Natalie Ayala (5-15) took the loss.
The two teams conclude the three-game OVC series noon, Sunday, which will also be Senior Day for the Lady Govs. APSU will honor seniors Laurel Burroughs and Eisenbraun prior to the game.
--AP--
