CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – Austin Peay State University's softball team will play what is the first of two mid-week Ohio Valley Conference doubleheaders versus Murray, 2 p.m., Wednesday at Racer Field in Murray, Kentucky.
The Governors (10-6, 5-4 OVC), who are seventh in the conference standings, are coming into the matchup having gone 1-2 this past weekend at Eastern Illinois; while Murray State (10-14, 7-2 OVC) is tied for second in the OVC after sweeping SIUE last weekend.
The Govs are led offensively by senior shortstop Brooke Pfefferle, who is hitting at a .429 clip this season, including two doubles, a triple, and a home run, to go with nine runs scored and six RBIs.
Three other Governors are also hitting over .300 this season, starting with senior outfielder Bailey Shorter (.391, 1 HR, 11 RBI), junior third baseman Lexi Osowski (.357, 2 2B, 1 HR, 9 RBI) and senior pitcher/first baseman Kelsey Gross (.333, 1 HR, 18 RBI).
The Racers are led by Kamryn Carcich, who enters the games batting .281, with a triple and six RBIs, while Sierra Gilmore (.279, 3 HR, 15 RBI) and Logan Braundmeier (.228, 3 HR, 12 RBI) provide most of the team's power numbers.
In the circle, the Govs pitching staff was led by Gross, who is 4-1 this season, including a shutout, a save, with an overall 2.79 ERA and 22 strikeouts in 32.2 innings of work.
Freshman Jordan Benefiel is 3-1 this season, with a 1.58 ERA and 18 strikeouts in 17.2 innings pitched, while junior Harley Mullins (3-4) has won her two of her last three starts, including a shutout, and has two saves this season.
Murray State's pitching staff is led by Hannah James, who sports a 4-6 overall record, with a 2.31 ERA and 81 strikeouts in 72.2 innings pitched.
Govs Hit and Run
- Austin Peay trails in the all-time series 19-10 to the Racers but have won five of the last six meetings between the two programs.
- The doubleheader versus Murray State marks the third time in the first four weeks of OVC play where the Govs have played a team (Southeast Missouri, Eastern Illinois) that is in first or second place in the conference's standings.
- Senior catcher Brett Jackson enters the doubleheader coming off one of her best weeks at the plate in her career, as she batted .455 in four games last week, going 5-for-11.
- Senior outfielder Bailey Shorter's go-ahead triple in the series finale at Eastern Illinois was the 11th game-winning hit of her career.
- Senior Drew Dudley enters the Murray State doubleheader with a four-game hitting streak, posting a .364 batting average over that span, which includes two doubles.
