STATESBORO, Ga. – Austin Peay State University's softball team kept the pressure on Georgia Southern right down to the game's final pitch, Sunday, at the Eagle Round Robin, but in the end couldn't break through,coming up short versus the tournament hosts, 4-2.
The Govs (0-3) trailed Georgia Southern 4-1 heading into the top of the sixth inning, but back-to-back singles by Natalie Schilling and Kacy Acree, followed by a walk to Brooke Pfefferle loaded the bases, with no one out. Danielle Liermann then walked to force in Schilling to make it a two-run game. The Eagles (3-0) would get the next Gov batter on a fielder's choice, with Acree being thrown out at the plate.
What would follow would be one of the biggest plays of the game, with Carly Mattson crushing a ball down the third base line but the third baseman speared the ball out of the air and tagged the runner out at third for a double play to end.
The Govs would mount one final rally attempt in the top of the seventh, with Austin Peay loading the bases on three straight walks with two outs, but a ground ball out ended the game.
Georgia Southern jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning and held that three-run margin until the top of the fourth inning with Austin Peay getting on the board on an RBI single by Liermann.
The Govs return to action, 1 p.m., Wednesday, when they travel to Huntsville, Ala., for a doubleheader against Alabama A&M.
Follow the Govs softball team on Austin Peay's official athletics website Let'sGoPeay.com or on Twitter @AustinPeaySB.
Inside the boxscore
- With her two RBIs Sunday, Danielle Liermann moved past Stacey Williams for 10th-place on the school all-time RBI leaderboard.
- Govs batters drew a season-high six walks.
- With their hits Sunday, Kacey Acree and Danielle Liermann recorded at least one base hit in each game played over the weekend.
- Leadoff hitter Kacy Acree and number-nine hitter Natalie Schilling combined to reach base 12 out of their 21 plate apprearances over the weekend.
Coaching Quotables with Head Coach Rodney DeLong
On needing better at bats
"We were unfortunate in a couple of at bats, but the issue was we wasted too many at bats, swinging at too many bad pitches and not playing a complete game. Right now, we don't know how to win."
On Kelsey Gross' bounce-back effort performance
"(Kelsey) Gross did a good job bouncing back today from a tough first inning and we can build off her performance today."
Defensive effort
"I was pleased with our defense and I was pleased with our effort defensively. Emily Harkleroad (in right field) made the play of the weekend out in right field."
On moving forward
"I did see some good things this weekend, but losing is not fun and we're going to learn ho to win and we're going to learn how to win the hard way."
--AP--
