The Govs (24-11, 8-2 OVC) scored 16 runs, while pounding out 23 hits in the doubleheader, including three doubles and three home runs, while pitchers Morgan Rackel and Kelly Mardones held the Skyhawks (17-22, 2-6 OVC) to just a pair of runs and eight hits overall.
The Govs continues their current homestand, 4:00pm, Wednesday, as they play host to Middle Tennessee for a non-conference single game.
Follow the Govs softball team on Austin Peay’s official athletics website Let’sGoPeay.com or on Twitter @AustinPeaySB for more information or updates.
Box Score
Game 1
Austin Peay 5, Tennessee Martin 0
Rackel (12-5) was almost unhittable in Game 1 versus the Skyhawks with only three batters reaching base versus the left-hander – singles in the third and seventh innings and a hit batter in the second – while striking out 11 UTM batters.
The Govs offense would give Rackel all the runs she would need in the bottom of the first inning, with Kacy Acree opening the frame with a single and scored two batters later on Danielle Liermann‘s OVC-leading 15th home run of the season.
Liermann, Emily Harkleroad and Carly Mattson would all finish the game with two hits.
Austin Peay would score two more runs in the second inning, on a two-run double by Bailey Shorter, scoring Harkleroad and Brooke Pfefferle.
The score would remain that way until the bottom of the sixth, when Pfefferle added a run on her second home run of the season.
Game 2
Austin Peay 11, Tennessee Martin 2
The Govs would see Tennessee Martin jump out in front early on, scoring single runs in the top of the first and second innings to go up 2-0, but Austin Peay answered right back in the bottom of the second, scoring four times – highlighted by a three-run double by Liermann – to take the lead for good.
Liermann, along with Rackel, would finish the game with three hits each.
The Govs added two more runs in the third, to make it 6-2, including one on an RBI Acree single.
Acree, Pfefferle and Natalie Schilling all recorded two hits each in the nightcap.
That would be more than enough for Mardones (8-3), as she held the Skyhawks off the scoreboard in her final three innings of work, giving up six hits and one walk overall, while striking out two, before Rackel came in to pitch a 1-2-3 sixth inning.
Austin Peay closed out the game in the bottom of the sixth inning, with all five batters recording a hit and scoring a run, with Rackel’s three-run homer ending the game, 11-2, on the eight-run mercy rule.
Inside the Box Score
The sweep of Tennessee Martin was the Govs’ first twinbill of the Skyhawks since April 5, 2001 in Clarksville.
The 24 wins tie for the fifth most single-season victories for Austin Peay.
The two double-figure hit games versus Tennessee Martin give the Govs 12 on the season in 35 games.
With her second-game three-run second-inning double, Danielle Liermann broke the 30-year-old single-season RBI record (40), set by Stacey Williams in 1988. She now has 44 RBI this season.
With multi-hit and RBI games in both ends of the doubleheader, Liermann now has 41 career multi-hits games and 33 career multi-RBI games.
The shutout by Morgan Rackel was her fourth of the season, the most by an APSU pitcher since the 2005 season.
The shutout by Austin Peay in Game 1 versus Tennessee Martin was their ninth overall on the season, the most in a season since 2007 and ties for the third-most in a single season all-time.
Govs pitching have recorded 178 strikeouts this season, the most by an Austin Peay pitching staff since 2012.
Coaching Quotables with Head Coach Rodney DeLong
On ending OVC weekend with a sweep
“The kids really bounced back today and that’s what I like the most about it. Morgan (Rackel) and Kelly (Mardones) both threw well today, and we played well behind them.”
On having a good day at the plate
“We’re starting to get better at the plate, Carly (Mattson) is starting to hit and that’s good to see, Brooke (Pfefferle) had a good day today and those two start hitting with some of the regulars we can really score some runs.”
On Danielle Liermann‘s season at the plate
“Dani has really expanded her game. She’s handled the outer half (of the strike zone) better and she’s learned patience. When people try to pitch around her, she just waits to hit the right pitch. I’m proud of Dani’s progression. She’s been phenomenal.”
On the upcoming week’s games
“Wednesday’s game with Middle Tennessee will be a good mid-week tune-up where we’ll probably throw all three of our pitchers to get prepared for Jacksonville State. We really respect that program (Jacksonville State) and I respect their coaches and we’re looking forward to them coming to town.”
