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Clarksville, TN – Morgan Hoeg and Chandler Groves each hit grand slam home runs, Wednesday, to power Austin Peay State University’s softball team to a doubleheader sweep of Samford University by 8-6 and 8-7 finals at Cheryl Holt Field.
The doubleheader sweep was the first for the Lady Govs versus Samford since March 15, 1989, when they won back-to-back 7-0 finals.
Austin Peay Lady Govs Softball takes two from Samford Wednesday. (APSU Sports Information)
Hoeg’s slam came in walk-off fashion in Game 1, with the Lady Govs (5-17) entering their final at-bat down 6-4. Laurel Burroughs opened the inning by being pitch by a pitch, and an out later, saw Niya Sparks and Sidney Hooper load the bases with back-to-back walks.
That brought up Hoeg, who blasted a 2-1 pitch well over the center field fence to seal away the com-from-behind victory for Austin Peay.
Samford (20-13) took an early lead with two unearned runs in the top of the first inning, with the Lady Govs answering back in the bottom of the inning with a run of its own – when Burroughs scored on a wild pitch.
The Bulldogs would add two more runs in the top of the second to go up 4-1, but Austin Peay answered right back in the bottom of the inning to tie the game 5-5. Mel Pavel and Rikki Arkansas opened the inning with back-to-back hits.
An out later Groves ripped a 1-0 pitch over the center field fence for a game-tying three-run homer. Arkansas led Austin Peay with two hits.
Samford regained the lead in the top of the fourth inning, scoring twice to go up 6-4, a lead they would hold until Hoeg’s walk-off heroics in the bottom of the seventh.
Hooper (1-4) got the complete-game win, holding the Bulldogs to just two hits over the final three innings after Samford had taken the lead.
Game 2 started with Samford taking a 5-0 lead after its first two at-bats, but Austin Peay roared back with five runs in the bottom of the second inning to tie the game.
Sparks began the inning with a double down the left-field line, followed by back-to-back walks to load the bases with no outs. Pavel then drove in Sparks with the first run of the inning. Two outs later Groves crushed a 1-2 pitch out over the left field fence to tie the game 5-5.
Austin Peay took the lead for good in the bottom of the third inning, scoring three times, all after two outs. Hoeg and Pavel started the inning with back-to-back singles before Arkansas walked to load the bases A Samford error allowed the inning’s first run before Groves driving in the other two with a single.
Groves and Pavel had two hits each for Austin Peay, with Groves collecting six RBI–giving her nine for the day.
Heather Norris (1-4), who pitched the final six innings in relief, got the win, limiting the Bulldogs to just two runs while striking out three and walking one.
Austin Peay State University Sports Information provides the latest news and updates on the Athletic endeavors of the student-athletes at APSU. Under the direction of Brad Kirtley, the APSU SID’s office consists of Cody Bush, and Colby Wilson. To contact the APSU Sports Information office, contact, 931.221.7561.
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