BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Austin Peay State University's softball team got the Kassie Stanfill Era off to a great start, Friday afternoon, at Mary Bowers Field in the opening day of the UAB Tournament, as it rolled to 10-0 and 8-3 victories against Louisiana Monroe and Wright State.
It was just the second time in school history that an Austin Peay softball coach opened their respective careers with the Govs with back-to-back wins, the other coming at the start of the 1992 season.
The Govs continue play in the tournament on Saturday with a 12:30 p.m. rematch with Louisiana Monroe followed by a 5:30 p.m. contest versus UAB.
Game 1
Austin Peay 10, Louisiana Monroe 0
Austin Peay jumped out to an early lead versus the Warhawks, scoring twice in each of the first two innings, with Carly Mattson picking up an RBI in the first innings and Kacy Acree driving in the second inning on her season's first home run.
That would all the runs starter Morgan Rackel would need as she recorded her eighth career shutout, allowing just two singles while striking out 10.
The Govs would close out the game with a six-run fourth inning, highlighted by Mattson's three-run double and Acree's two-run two bagger.
Game 2
Austin Peay 8, Wright State 3
The Govs would break open a 3-3 tie with a two-run fourth inning and a three-run fifth to come away with the victory, highlighted by Emily Moore driving in three of the five final runs, including a two-run homer that just slipped inside the left field foul pole to close out the scoring.
Austin Peay had gotten out to a quick two-run lead in the top of the first, with Danielle Liermann and Mattson picking up RBIs.
After Wight State cut the APSU to 2-1, Acree pushing the Govs lead back out to a two-run margin, 3-1, with a single in the fourth before Wight State scored its final two runs of the game in the bottom of the inning to tie the game.
Austin Peay's Kelly Mardones (1-0) picked up the win, going the first four innings, while Kelsey Gross threw three shutout relief innings to pick up the save.
Inside the boxscore
· With her single in the first inning versus ULM, Carly Mattson became the 34th player in program history to record at least 100 career hits.
· Carly Mattson's 100th career hit makes her the third player on the current roster to have at least 100 hits, joining Danielle Liermann and Kacy Acree making it just the ninth time in program history and the first since 2007 that the Govs have had three players on the roster with at least 100-career hits.
· Kacy Acree joined teammate Danielle Liermann with her 150th career hit, marking just the third time in program history -- and the first since 1995 -- APSU has had two players with at least 150-career hits on the same roster.
· With her three runs scored, Kacy Acree becomes just the eighth player in program history to score 100 runs in their career.
· The win versus ULM evens APSU's record in season-opening games at 17-17.
· The 10-0 shutout victory versus ULM was the largest shutout win by the Govs to open a season in program history.
· Morgan Rackel's 10 strikeouts versus ULM gives her 214 in her career, moving her past Megan Lane (1999-02) for eighth-place in program history.
Stanfill statements
On coming out and competing on opening day
"I felt that if we came out and played Austin Peay softball, we would have a pretty good chance to do well and that's exactly what we did today."
On having different players step up in big spots
"Yes, Morgan (Rackel), Kacy (Acree) and Carly (Mattson) had big days for us and as seniors you expect they would, but with so many other players also stepping up for us we dominated every facet of the game be it at the plate, on the bases, in the field on defensively and with our pitching. That is what we've focusing on in practice every day and it was nice to see them come out and put it all together."
On putting today behind they and getting ready for ULM and UAB
"We just have to keep coming out every day with the mindset of one game at a time, one inning at a time. If we can do that and play Austin Peay style softball, we'll be ok."
