COLUMBIA, Tenn. – Austin Peay State University's softball team and the unanimous top-ranked team in college softball were tied midway through four innings; however, the Lady Vols scored eight unanswered runs across the final three frames to earn a 9-1, six-inning victory, Tuesday, at the Ridley Sports Complex as part of the annual Mid-State Classic.
How It Happened
Bottom 1st | After Austin Peay was retired in order to begin Tuesday's contest, Tennessee's leadoff batter singled and later stole second. After an Alanah Jones strikeout, a UT single drove in the leadoff batter for the final run of the game.
Top 4th | After scoreless second and third innings by both sides – innings in which APSU stranded a pair of Lady Vols in both – the Governors scored their lone run of the afternoon in the top of the fourth. Sammie Shelander was hit by a pitch, and advanced following a Katie Raper ground out to Tennessee's third baseman. A Natalie Burns RBI double then drove in Shelander to tie the game at one heading to the midway point of the frame.
Bottom 4th | Tennessee loaded the bases with a pair of steals and a walk, before clearing the bases on a double to deep left center field. After the runner advanced on the throw, a sacrifice fly on UT's next plate appearance extended the Lady Vols' lead to 5-1.
Bottom 5th | Tennessee scored two runs in the bottom of the fifth, coming on a one-out, two RBI home run.
Bottom 6th | Following a walk and later advancement after a wild pitch, Tennessee clinched the run-rule decision on a two-run home run in the bottom of the sixth.
Gov of Decision: Alanah Jones (L, 10-4), 4.0 IP, 6 H, 5 R, 4 ER, 3 BB, 1 K, 78 pitches.
Up Next
Austin Peay begins Atlantic Sun Conference play in the Bluegrass State for a two-day, three-game series against Eastern Kentucky at Gertrude Hood Field in Richmond, Kentucky. The Governors and Colonels begin the series with a 12 p.m. (CT), Saturday first pitch before concluding the series at noon, Sunday.
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