CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – Austin Peay State University's Jordan Benefiel pitched a shutout, while Lexi Osowski picked up three hits and accounted for four runs versus Belmont, Saturday at Cathi Maynard Park-Cheryl Holt Field, as the Govs took the opening game of their three-game Ohio Valley Conference series, 5-0.
Game 2, Saturday, was postponed until, 1 p.m., Sunday, where is will be resumed to completion and then followed by the regularly scheduled Sunday contest.
Benefiel (4-2) was in control from the start as she only allowed three hits, all to the Bruins (8-13, 4-8 OVC) leadoff hitter Cheyenne Cavanaugh, while walking one and striking out a career tying nine batters.
Offensively, after the two teams opened the game trading three scoreless innings, the Governors (11-8, 6-6 OVC) would break the deadlock with two runs in the bottom of the fourth.
Osowski would get things started with a one-out single followed by a walk to Kelsey Gross and then a single by Brett Jackson to load the bases.
Emily Harkleroad would follow with an infield single, to score Osowski, with Drew Dudley driving in Gross with a single to make it 2-0.
The Govs would three more runs in the fifth inning, with Osowski driving in Kelsey Gray and Bailey Shorter with a single and later in the inning score on a passed ball for the 5-0 final margin.
Inside the Boxscore
- The shutout in Game 1 was Jordan Benefiel's first collegiate shutout.
- Jordan Benefiel joined teammates Kelsey Gross and Harley Mullins in recording shutouts this season, the first time in program history three different pitchers have throw shutouts in the same season.
- The three-hit day by Lexi Osowski was the 33rd multi-hit game of her career.
- Jordan Benefiel lowered her OVC leading opponent's batting average against to .173 this season.
- Drew Dudley extended her season-long hit streak to seven games, with a fourth-inning single.
