JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. – Austin Peay State University's softball team completed a perfect run at the East Tennessee State University Buccaneers Classic, Sunday, by defeating Saint Peter's, 12-0, and East Tennessee, 5-2, at Betty Basler Field to finish the weekend 4-0.
The Governors (10-7) continued their hot hitting in the tournament, recording double-figure hits in both games, and finishing the weekend with 44 total hits in batting an even .400 as a team.
While Austin Peay was taking care of business at the plate, the Govs pitching staff was just as good, holding its opponents to a .180 batting average on the weekend, while posting a microscopic ERA of 0.29, with 24 strikeouts in 24 innings pitched.
The Govs will return to action this coming Tuesday as they host their season's first home game at Cheryl Holt Field, with a 3 p.m. single game versus Bradley.
Follow the Govs softball team on Austin Peay's official athletics website Let'sGoPeay.com or on Twitter @AustinPeaySB.
Game 1
Austin Peay 12, Saint Peter's 0
The Governors jumped out right from the start against the Peacocks as they plated four runs in their first at bat – highlighted by RBI doubles Kacy Acree and Carly Mattson – while Bailey Shorter and Katelyn Smith also picked up RBIs with singles.
Danielle Liermann continued her early-season power display with a two-run homer in the second inning, while Morgan Rackel added an RBI single in the third.
The Govs would close the first game's scoring in the fourth inning, with Acree blasting a three-run homer, the Govs fourth hit to go for extra bases.
Kelsey Gross (2-3) picked up the complete-game shutout, limiting Saint Peter's to just four hits, while striking out four and walking none.
Game 2
Austin Peay 5, East Tennessee 2
Liermann would break open a 1-1 tie against the Buccaneers with a two-run homer in the top of the third inning, her ninth home run of the season and third of the weekend.
ETSU cut the Govs advantage to 3-2, with a run in the bottom of the fourth inning, but APSU responded with single runs in the fifth and sixth innings, coming on an RBI single by Liermann in the fifth and an RBI pinch-hit single by Kendall Vedder in the sixth.
The Govs opening run of the game in the first inning came on back-to-back doubles by Liermann and Rackel.
Rackel (5-2) also collected the win in relief, coming in with two out in the bottom of the fourth inning and throwing 3.1 inning of one-hit shutout relief of APSU starter Kelly Mardones—who went 3.2 innings, while giving up just four hits and two walks.
Inside the boxscore
- The four-game win streak for Austin Peay is the longest for the Govs since they won five straight games from March 20 to March 23, 2014.
- Danielle Liermann's two-run homer versus East Tennessee gave her 100 career RBIs, making her just the fifth Gov in program history to reach that milestone.
- The complete-game shutout by Kelsey Gross versus Saint Peter's was the first of her career.
- Governors hitters drew more walks at the Buccaneers Classic (14) than they had strikeouts (12).
- Of the Govs' 44 hits this weekend, 17 went for extra-bases (12 doubles, five home runs).
Coaching Quotables with Head Coach Rodney DeLong
On going undefeated during tournament
"We're just trying to get better every day and get better every weekend. The kids continue to believe and continue to work hard and I'm excited to see what's to come.
"We knew it was going to take some time and take some at bats of and people that are capable of being good hitters for us are starting to perform...and the lineup is starting to take shape."
On complete team effort
"We've been pitching well and if we hit and play defense we have a chance to be pretty good. It's exciting to see the improvement, but we still have a long way to go, but I like where we're at today."
On home opener
"We're excited to come home and play a home game, Bradley represents a great challenge and they're a good program that is well coached. We're looking forward to playing someone good at home."
--AP--
