CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. - Justine Cerda belted a home run and Samantha Floyd allowed just two runs as the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders (24-23, 11-6 SBC) lost the second game of a doubleheader in heartbreaking fashion to the Austin Peay Lady Govs (21-22, 7-10 OVC) at Lady Gov Field in Clarksville, Tenn. on Thursday, 4-3.
The Blue Raiders came into the game looking for their fifth straight victory after defeating the Lady Govs 4-0 in the first game of the doubleheader thanks to stellar pitching by Freshmen Lindsey Vander Lugt.
Vander Lugt (17-15) picked the loss for MT, this time in a relief appearance, giving up two runs on four hits in 1.0 innings.
Samantha Floyd also pitched for the Blue Raiders, giving up two runs on five hits, while striking out two, in 5.1 innings of action.
Natasha Anderson (16-13) got the win for Austin Peay, also in a relief appearance, giving up one run on one hit in 1.0 innings.
The game remained scoreless until the 4th inning when Austin Peay took a 1-0 lead on a home run by the then third baseman Anderson. They added to their lead in the 6th inning to leave the Blue Raider deficit at two runs and set up a dramatic final inning.
After being held to just three hits so far in the game, Middle Tennessee looked to have stolen the victory from the Lady Govs when they took a 3-2 lead through Cerda's second home run on the season.
Blue Raider ace Vander Lugt came in to work the final inning but gave up two straight singles to begin her outing. Austin Peay tied the game at 3-3 thanks to another single by Krista Henke and won the game on a single by pinch-hitter Taylor Newberry.
Corrie Abel went 2-for-3 to increase her team-leading batting average to .363. Shelby Stiner also had two hits.
Middle Tennessee continues non-conference play with a game against Tennessee State in Nashville, Tenn. on Wednesday at 4 p.m.
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