LYNCHBURG, Va. – Austin Peay State University's Morgan Zuege tied a career best with three hits versus Liberty, Friday at Kamphius Field at Liberty Softball Stadium, but it wasn't enough, as the Governors dropped their ASUN Conference series opener to the Flames, 6-3.
The Govs (24-18, 11-8 ASUN) saw Liberty (32-17, 14-5 ASUN) score four times in the bottom of the first inning, as starter Jordan Benefiel (17-9) struggled to find the home plate umpires strike zone.
The score would remain that way until the top of the third, when the Govs scored twice to cut the lead in half with two runs.
Mea Clark and Emily Harkleroad opened the inning with back-to-back walks, followed by an RBI single up the middle by Megan Hodum, scoring pinch runner Jaya Herring, while the second run came in an out later when the Flames committed the first of their three errors in the game on a ground ball off the bat of Lexi Osowski-Anderson, allowing Hodum to score to make it 4-2.
After Liberty scored a run in the bottom of the third to push its lead back out to three runs, 5-2, Austin Peay would cut the lead back to two with a run in the top of the fifth, with Harkleroad reaching on an error and score two batters later on a single by Zuege.
Unfortunately, that would be as close as the Govs would get, as the Flames closed out the game scoring a run in the bottom of the sixth for the 6-3 final.
Inside the Boxscore
Up Next
Austin Peay and Liberty conclude their three-game ASUN Conference series, 11 a.m., Saturday, with a doubleheader.
Govs Online
For up-to-date news and information on Austin Peay softball, go to LetsGoPeay.com or follow along on Twitter and Instagram (@GovsSB), or on Facebook. Live stats will be available during all home games at PeayStats.com. In addition, all Austin Peay home games will be broadcast on ESPN+ this season, visit the softball schedule at LetsGoPeay.com for a complete broadcast schedule.
