CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – After an 11-day layoff due to a pair of weather postponements, Austin Peay State University's softball team opens a busy week that will see them play seven games in six days, beginning with a contest at Lipscomb, on Tuesday, followed by a make-up of an Ohio Valley Conference doubleheader, Wednesday, at Tennessee Tech.
Tuesday's non-conference matchup at Lipscomb is scheduled for 5 p.m., at Draper Diamond, while the make-up of the OVC doubleheader Wednesday at Tennessee Tech is slated for a 2 p.m. start at Tech Softball Field.
The Governors (23-17, 8-4 OVC) enter the non-conference matchup having split its last six games overall, with the Lipscomb contest being the first non-conference opponent for the Govs since March 17, when they defeated Michigan State in a walk-off victory, 5-2.
After Austin Peay's first 40 games, the Govs offense is led by Carly Mattson, who is hitting at a .344 clip, which includes 10 doubles, nine home runs and 25 RBIs.
Mattson is followed by Kacy Acree (.336, 5 HR, 21 RBI), Danielle Liermann (.331, 14 HR, 32 RBI), Kelsey Gross (.321, 2 HR, 17 RBI) and Morgan Rackel (.307, 8 HR, 28 RBI).
In the circle, Rackel has been the workhorse of the Govs staff posting a 17-5 overall record – including winning her last 10 decisions -- with a 2.21 ERA in 142.2 innings of work, while striking out an OVC-best 169 batters.
Two other Govs have picked up three wins each this year, with Gross posting a 3-1 record, two saves, a 1.98 ERA and 28 strikeouts in 42.1 innings pitched, while Kelly Mardones is 3-11, with a 4.49 ERA and 36 strikeouts in 78 innings pitched.
Scouting the opponents
Lipscomb
The Bisons (31-13-1, 10-4 ASUN) enter the weekend with three players batting over .300 on the season, led by Hannah Devault (.366, 9 HR, 46 RBI) and followed by Jordan Fortel (.331, 5 HR, 32 RBI) and Katie Turner (.310, 1 HR, 11 RBI).
In the circle, Lipscomb is led by Mandy Jordan, who enters with a 13-7 record, including a 2.31 ERA and 128 strikeouts in 124.1 innings of work, while Turner is 10-2 this season, with a 2.96 ERA and 54 strikeouts in 68.2 innings pitched.
Tennessee Tech
The Golden Eagles (18-21, 8-8 OVC) enter the weekend with two players batting over .300 on the season, led by Beth McCulley (.362, 1 HR, 7 RBI) and Sydney Love-Baker (.306, 10 HR, 26 RBI).
In the circle, Tech is led by Alyssa Arden, who has posted an 11-10 record so far this season, including a 2.83 ERA and 103 strikeouts in 128.2 innings of work.
Governors Hit and Run
- Morgan Rackel has reached base in 17 straight games, tying for the fifth longest streak by a Gov since the 2000 season.
- Danielle Liermann ranked in the Top 30 in Division I among active players for home runs (15th), total bases (15th), RBIs (24th) and doubles (28th).
- Austin Peay needs two extra-base hits to reach 100 for the season, marking only the third time in the program's 34-year history they have recorded at least 100 extra-base hits in a season.
- Danielle Liermann needs one multi-hit game to reach 60 multi-hit games in her career.
- The contest versus Lipscomb is the first of seven games in six days for the Govs, including their final two home doubleheaders of the season this Friday and Sunday.
