CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – The Austin Peay State University softball team is gearing up for its first home games of the 2026 season. They will host the three-day Governors Classic from Friday to Sunday at Cathi Maynard Park.
The Govs (7-8) kick off the tournament with a match against Stonehill at 12:30 p.m. on Friday. They will face Southern Indiana at 3 p.m. that same day. On Saturday, they meet Central Michigan and Ohio at 12:30 p.m. and 3 p.m., respectively. They will wrap up the event against Stonehill again at 12:30 p.m. on Sunday.
Coming off a successful previous weekend, the Governors recorded two wins, including a commanding 8-0 victory over Houston Christian and a 6-3 win against Prairie View A&M.
This season, Katie Raper stands out, leading the Atlantic Sun Conference with seven home runs. She ranks 15th nationally in this category, with one home run in each of the last two games and four in the past six. Junior Brie Howard follows closely with five home runs, placing third in the ASUN and 56th in the NCAA. As a team, the Govs have hit 19 home runs, positioning them second in the ASUN.
Under the guidance of head coach Kassie Stanfill, the all-time winningest coach in Austin Peay softball history, the team is looking forward to building on last season’s success. They tied a program record with 39 wins in 2025, along with a record 14 ASUN victories. Stanfill welcomes back 13 players from last year, including the Preseason Offensive Player of the Year, Brie Howard, and infielder Kiley Hinton, who also received preseason all-conference recognition.
Brie Howard had an impressive sophomore season, leading the team in several stats including runs (38), hits (56), and batting average (.354). She consistently shows her skills with high performance in every aspect of the game. Meanwhile, Kiley Hinton, a two-year starter, made 54 out of 55 starts last season and excelled defensively, evidenced by her .988 fielding percentage and 122 assists, which ranked second in the ASUN.
Looking ahead, the team will continue at home, concluding their nonconference agenda with the Cathi Maynard Invitational from March 6-8 at Cathi Maynard Park.
For the latest updates throughout the 2026 season, you can follow the Governors on X and Instagram (@GovsSB) or visit LetsGoPeay.com for more information and schedule updates.
