CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – Austin Peay State University's softball team almost gave its seniors a send-off to remember, Sunday, at Cheryl Holt Field, but came up a run short in its season-ending Ohio Valley Conference contest versus Southeast Missouri, 11-10.
After honoring seniors Ashley Eisenbraun and Laurel Burroughs before the game on Senior Day, the Lady Govs (9-37, 5-22 OVC) entered the final inning of Senior Day down trailing the Redhawks 11-5. But Burroughs wouldn't let APSU go down without a fight, picking up her third hit of the game with a one-out single. Earlier the Lebanon native had homered twice-in the third inning and again in the fifth-as part of a 3-for-4, 4-RBI day at the plate.
Following her seventh-inning single, Burroughs added to her OVC-leading stolen base total by stealing second base, her 22nd steal on the season. It was, followed Erica Inagaki's walk. Both runners advanced on a passed ball, followed by Burroughs scoring on a steal of home on the front side of a double steal with Inagaki.
Vinchenza DiBenedetto kept the rally going with a single; with Inagaki scoring a batter later on Mel Pavel's second double-and third hit of the game-making it 11-7. Pinch-hitter Christiana Gable groundout out to first, but DiBenedetto scored, cutting the deficit to three. Natalie Ayala then made it a one-run game (11-10) with a two-run homer to center field, her first of the season and the third by the Lady Govs on the day.
Rikki Arkansas reached on a bunt single, putting the tying run on base and bringing the potential game-winning run to the plate. However, pinch hitter Heather Norris popped up into short right field to end the game as the rally came up short.
Madeline Krumrey (13-10) got the win, despite giving up 10 runs, with Keaira Schilling getting the final out of the game to pick up her second save of the season.
APSU's Sidney Hooper (2-12) took the loss.
Southeast Missouri (19-25, 12-12 OVC) jumped out to an early 4-0 lead in the top of the first inning, highlighted by a three-run homer from Riley Hayes, had added to that lead with a single run in the second inning on a single by Claire Wernig.
Austin Peay scored its first run of the game in the bottom of the second inning on a double by Pavel, while making it a 5-4 game in the third inning on Burroughs' three-run homer..
The Redhawks answered with three runs in the fourth, with two coming in on a single by Kayla Fortner and the other on a single by Wernig.
In the fifth, Burroughs hit her second home run of the game – tying a school single-game record – to make it 8-5.
SEMO scored its final three runs in the top of the sixth inning – aided by an Austin Peay error – to make it 11-5.
--AP--
