CONWAY, Ark. – Austin Peay State University's Danielle Liermann ripped two doubles and a home run, Saturday, in their opening day of play at the University of Central Arkansas Tournament, but its wasn't enough, as the Govs fell to South Dakota State 12-4 before being edged by Louisiana-Monroe, 6-4.
Overall, Liermann went 3-for-7 at the plate, while driving in four and scoring twice, with each of her three hits giving APSU the lead at that point in the contests.
Brooke Pfefferle was the only other Governor to record more than one hit on the day, with a double and a single, while Emily Moore and Carly Mattson picked up a double each Saturday.
The Govs will conclude play in the UCA Tournament on Sunday, beginning with a 1 p.m. contest versus Arkansas-Pine Bluff followed by a 3 p.m. game versus the tournament host Central Arkansas.
Follow the Govs softball team on Austin Peay's official athletics website Let'sGoPeay.com or on Twitter @AustinPeaySB.
Game 1
South Dakota State 12, Austin Peay 4
Two big innings by the Jackrabbits proved to be the undoing for the Governors, with South Dakota State scoring nine of its 12 runs in the second (four runs) and fifth (five runs) innings combined.
Liermann (home run), Pfefferle and Emily Moore (doubles) and Kelsey Gross (single) had the Govs four hits, while the Jackrabbits collected 16 hits overall.
APSU starter Morgan Rackel (1-2) taking the loss – going four innings and allowing 11 hits, while striking out six and walking none.
Game 2
Louisiana-Monroe 6, Austin Peay 4
Austin Peay led 4-3 heading into the bottom of the sixth inning, but the Warhawks scored three times in the inning – aided by a popup lost in the sun and a APSU error – to retake the lead for good.
The Govs had taken an early 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning on RBI doubles by Liermann and Mattson, then retaking the lead 4-2 on a two-run double by Liermann in the fifth inning.
Pfefferle and Savanna Oliver also had hits for the Govs.
Kelly Mardones (0-1) took the complete-game loss in her first career start for the Govs, giving up eight hits and three walks.
Inside the boxscore
- With her four RBIs, Danielle Liermann ties Jane Goodson (1986-89) for seventh-place all-time in the program's history for career RBI with 81.
- With her six strikeouts in four innings of work, Morgan Rackel now has 24 k's in 20 innings pitched, for an average of 8.4 per seven innings pitched.
- Danielle Liermann is the only Govs to record hits in each of the Govs six games this season.
Coaching Quotables with Head Coach Rodney DeLong
On Danielle Liermann's day at the plate
"Dani had a great day (at the plate) and, hopefully, she'll continue to do what she does, and we'll find some hitters that will produce with her. We're still looking for two or three hitters to help the middle of our lineup.
On Kelly Mardones' first start
"Kelly pitched well enough to win and was definitely a positive today and moving forward. That is a piece that we've been needing, and I'm really pleased with how Kelly threw today. We make a couple of plays there and she gets a 'W'."
On getting ready for tournament's final day
"We just need to worry about the next one (game), keep chipping away, and we'll start playing good softball eventually."
--AP--
