By Thomas Corhern, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – It was a tough day for the Tennessee Tech softball team on Wednesday as the Golden Eagles couldn't find a way to slow down Austin Peay.
The Governors took both ends of the doubleheader, winning 10-0 in game one, then 8-1 in game two.
In both games combined, the Golden Eagles (18-23, 8-10 Ohio Valley Conference) were held to seven total hits – two in the first game, five in the night cap. Beth McCulley and Jessie Lowery were the only Tech players to hit safely in game one, while Gabby LaSala was 2-for-3 in the second, with Alexis Trimiar, Haeli Bryson and Hannah Richter also picking up base knocks.
Tech couldn't find much of answer for APSU's pitching in either contest. Kelsey Gross earned the victory in the first game, earning the complete-game shutout as she walked two and struck out five. Morgan Rackel, one of the leading candidates for the OVC's Pitcher of the Year award, went the distance in game two, yielding one run on five hits as she walked none and struck out 10.
The Golden Eagles' lone run came in the second inning of the second game as Bryson drove in LaSala with an RBI single.
In game one, Alyssa Arden allowed seven runs – three earned – on eight hits and three walks as she struck out one over five frames. Callie Piper closed out the contest with the final two innings, allowing three runs on four hits.
The second game saw Bryson give up eight runs on nine hits over 4 2/3 innings, walking two and striking out one. Piper came in again for the final 2 1/3, going scoreless as she allowed two hits and two walks, while striking out one.
For Austin Peay (25-18, 10-4 OVC), Kacy Acree and Danielle Liermann drove in four runs each as Acree went 3-for-5 with two runs scored and Liermann was 3-for-3 with a run scored. Both hitters drove balls over the fence as Acree hit her sixth homer of the year, Liermann her 15th.
In the second game, Rackel helped her cause with a three-run home run for her ninth round-tripper of the year, while Mattson hit her 10th with a two-run shot in the first. Bailey Shorter also drove in two runs in the contest.
The Golden Eagles continue their final scheduled week of the regular season as they host Southeast Missouri on Friday. First pitch is scheduled for a 4 p.m. start and all games at the Tech Softball Field are free to the public.