CARBONDALE, Ill. – Austin Peay State University's softball team dropped its season's first game to Southern Illinois, Friday, at Charlotte West Stadium in the Coach B Classic, as the Governors fell, 4-1.
The Govs (4-1) and SIU (7-0) traded zeros for four-and-a-half innings, before the Salukis pushed across a couple of runs in the bottom of the fifth inning.
Austin Peay wouldn't go down without a fight. Emily Moore opening the top of the sixth for the Govs with a double to right-center field, advanced to third on an infield out and scored on a sacrifice fly by Bailey Shorter to cut the deficit to one run, 2-1.
But that would be as close as the Govs would get, with SIU adding two more runs in the bottom of the sixth on a home run for the 4-1 final.
Harley Mullins (1-1) took the loss for the Govs, giving up four runs n six hits, while striking out five and walking three.
The Govs will continue play at the Coach B Classic, Saturday, with a pair of games, first a 10 a.m. contest versus Ball State followed by a 4:45 p.m. game with DePaul.
Inside the Boxscore
- Govs catcher Brett Jackson threw out both SIU would-be base stealers in the contest.
- Emily Moore's double in the sixth inning was her first extra-base hit this year.
- Bailey Shorter's sacrifice fly in the sixth inning, marks three straight games where the Govs have recorded a sacrifice fly.
APSU coach Kassie Stanfill statements
On tough loss
"We played well in a hard-fought game, but things just didn't go our way today. We now need to put this loss behind us and get ready for our two games versus Ball State and DePaul tomorrow."
