The Lady Govs softball team finished their fall schedule on Sunday, Oct. 7, splitting a double header against the visiting Memphis Tigers, taking the first game in dramatic fashion, 8-7 in 10 innings, before dropping the second game, 3-1.
The first game was a hard-fought battle for the Lady Govs, who saw their four run lead squandered in the seventh inning as he Tigers tied the score at 5-5 to send the game into extra innings.
The Lady Govs would not see another lead until the winning run crossed the plate in the tenth inning. After a scoreless eighth inning, the Lady Govs would fall behind in the ninth, 7-5, but would not go away.
Playing under international tie-breaker rules, with the final out of the previous inning being placed on second base to start the inning, senior Jessica Ryan scored the first run of the inning when sophomore Paige Neely singled to bring her home. Junior Kayla Davidson would bring home Neely all the way from first base with a double in the right-center field that resulted in a close play at the plate, with Neely sliding around the Tiger catcher to plate the tying run.
After holding the Tigers scoreless in the top of the 10th, APSU was able to win in dramatic walk-off fashion as senior Morgan Brewer drove in the winning run with two outs with a single to center.
In the second game, the Lady Govs put forth a strong effort, but were unable to get the offense going to take the double-header sweep.
Lady Govs junior Lauren deCastro was able to hold the Tigers scoreless for the first four innings, but surrendered two runs in the fifth inning and one in the sixth to give Memphis a 3-0 lead going into the final inning.
Neely was able to plate the lone run for the Govs on a fielder’s choice. After putting the tying runners on base, deCastro ripped a line drive to left field, but Memphis left fielder Hannah Harrel was able to make a diving catch to preserve the win and end the game.
The Lady Govs will pick up action in the spring, traveling to Auburn University on Feb. 28 to compete in Auburn’s tournament.
