OXFORD, Ohio – Kelsey Gross hit a three-run, walk-off home run in the bottom of the seventh inning versus Michigan State, Sunday, as the Governors closed out their stay at the Miami Invitational with a 5-2 win at Miami Softball Stadium.
Kacy Acree opened the inning for the Govs (15-13) with a single but was erased on a fielder's choice on a bunt attempt by Morgan Rackel.
Danielle Liermann followed with a double down the third base line, moving Rackel to third and setting up Gross' heroics.
Michigan State (9-16) scored first, with a run in the top of the second inning, but APSU tied the game, 1-1, on an RBI single by Gross in the bottom of the third.
The Spartans took their final lead with a run in the top of the fifth, but the Govs answered with back-to-back doubles by Carly Mattson and Lexi Osowski in the bottom of the sixth.
Austin Peay also had a huge play defensively in the top of the seventh inning, with right fielder Natalie Schilling throwing out a Spartan runner out at the plate to keep the score tied, 2-2.
Morgan Rackel (11-5) picked up the complete-game win for the Govs giving up five hits and two runs – one earned – while walking three and striking out six.
Inside the Boxscore
- The walk-off win versus Michigan State was the first for the Govs since a 1-0 walk-off win versus Eastern Illinois, April 29, 2018.
- The Michigan State win is the second straight win versus a team from the Big 10 Conference (Rutgers, 2018).
- Kelsey Gross tied her career single-game high with four RBIs.
- Lexi Osowski's two-double game was the second this season by a Gov (Carly Mattson vs. UAB).
Stanfill Statements
On Gross' walk-off
"I think Kelsey went up there and after seeing her earlier in the game, stayed with her process, and came up with a clutch hit."
On battling back
"It was good to see our team fight out there today. It was a team win with everyone contributing."
On heading into OVC play next week
"Today was a big win, a timely win for us, as we head into conference play next weekend. The way we played and battled every inning should give us confidence in ever part of our game."