TROY, Ala. – After having to wait 345 days since its last game due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Austin Peay State University made the most of its return to the softball field, Saturday, at the Troy Invitational, picking up a pair of wins, coming away with a 6-2 victory versus Western Carolina and a 9-1 run-rule victory against Mercer in the nightcap.
The Govs will conclude play at the invitational tomorrow, squaring off against the same to teams, facing Western Carolina at 9 a.m., followed by a 12:30 p.m. contest versus Mercer.
Game 1
Austin Peay 6, Western Carolina 2
The Govs fell behind 1-0 to the Catamounts (2-3) in the bottom of the second inning but responded with a tying run in the top of the third.
Mallori Nesbit opening the inning with a single, just out of the reach of the Western Carolina third baseman, then advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Kelsey Gray before scoring two batters latter on a single to right by Brooke Pfefferle.
Austin Peay took the lead for good in the top of the fourth, scoring two runs, with Morgan McMahon driving in pinch runner Katie Keen with the tying run, while Brett Jackson also scored as the Catamounts left fielder mishandled the ball, making it 3-1.
APSU added to its lead in the fifth via an RBI triple by Kelsey Gross, scoring Lexi Osowski to make it 4-1.
Western Carolina would score its final run in the bottom of the inning to get within two, 4-2, but that would be as close as they would get, with Austin Peay adding two final runs in the sixth, with Kaitlyn Smith coming it on a wild pitch and Gray scoring on a single by Pfefferle.
Gross (1-0) picked up the win, going the first five innings, giving up six hits and two earned runs, while walking one and striking out one. It was Gross's first pitching action in more than a year as she didn't participate in last spring's abbreviated season because of a lower-body injury.
Harley Mullins came in in the bottom of the sixth and threw two innings of shutout ball to close out the game for the Govs.
Game 2
Austin Peay 9, Mercer 1
The Governors broke open a 2-1 game with a seven-run fifth inning, collecting seven hits out of the 10 batters that went to the plate in the inning.
Osowski and Gross opened the inning with back-to-back singles followed by Jackson hitting a three-run homer over the left-field fence to make it 5-1.
Drew Dudley and Gray reached on a single and a walk, sandwiched around a couple of outs, followed by an RBI single by Bailey Shorter and an RBI triple by Pfefferle.
Osowski ended the game with an RBI single as the Govs came away with a 9-1 eight-run rule victory.
Jordan Benefiel (1-0), making her first college start in the circle, went the distance, giving up just four hits and one run, while striking out eight.
The two teams opened the game trading scoreless innings through three-and-a half, before the Govs broke on top, 2-0 ,in the bottom of the fourth on an infield single by Shorter than scored Dudley and Emily Moore.
Mercer scored its lone run in the top of the fifth inning.
Inside the Boxscore
- Austin Peay is now 18-18 all-time in season-opening games.
- The eight strikeouts recorded by Jordan Benefiel versus Mercer is the most by a Govs freshman in her first career start since Natasha Anderson fanned 10 Furman batters back on Feb. 12, 2004.
- The win versus Western Carolina is the first by the Govs in three meetings.
- Emily Moore moved into a tie for fifth place all-time in hit by pitches when she was nailed for her career 15th time in the Mercer game.
- The seven-run fifth inning versus Mercer is the first seven-run inning by the Govs since April 26, 2019, when they turned the trick versus Morehead State.
- Drew Dudley tied her career single-game high with three hits versus Mercer.
APSU coach Kassie Stanfill statements
On getting back to playing
"Our energy was there from the opening pitch to the end of the second game today. That is what we've been asking for and the girls showed up and were very eager to be out on the dirt against an opponent."
On the return of Kelsey Gross after last year's injury
"She knew she was going to get the ball in Game 1 and she told me she was going to leave it all out on the field. She did just that and I wouldn't expect anything less from her. Her effort today, both at the plate and in the circle, was impressive."
On freshman Jordan Benefiel's first career pitching start
"I told her after the game that's why you're here. She spins the ball well and her composure out there is like someone who has been out there 50 times and that's all we can ask from her."
On the offensive attach
"All off season we've been focusing on our hitting and buying into the hitter mentality. Today showed all that work was worth it. Everybody contributed and it was fully a team win. Everyone had a role and they stepped up with it."
On all the new faces that stepped up on open day
"That is our job to bring in freshmen that can come in and find a way to contribute right away. We were excited with what we saw from all of them today and with more games under their belts the nerves will fade, the confidence will grow and their performances will continue to get even better."
