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HomeSportsAPSU Baseball beats Tennessee Tech 10-4, Jacques Pucheu strikes out 12

APSU Baseball beats Tennessee Tech 10-4, Jacques Pucheu strikes out 12

APSU Sports Information

APSU BaseballClarksville, TN – Starting pitcher Jacques Pucheu struck out a career-high 12 batters and the Austin Peay State University (APSU) baseball team powered to a 10-4 Ohio Valley Conference victory against Tennessee Tech, Saturday, on Joe and Cathi Maynard Baseball Field at Raymond C. Hand Park.

Austin Peay pitcher Jacques Pucheu strikes out a career high 12 batters in home win over Tennessee Tech, Saturday. (APSU Sports Information)
Austin Peay pitcher Jacques Pucheu strikes out a career high 12 batters in home win over Tennessee Tech, Saturday. (APSU Sports Information)

Pucheu (3-0) opened and closed his six scoreless innings by striking out the side and struck out two batters in each of the third, fourth and fifth innings.

He had to work out of trouble only once when Tennessee Tech loaded the bases with two out in the fifth. He would end that threat with his ninth strikeout of the day.

For the second-straight game, Austin Peay (7-9, 3-2 OVC) provided its starting pitcher with first-inning run support. First baseman Parker Phillips’ three-run home run off the top of the wall in the first inning provided first-inning support.

The Govs offense wasn’t done there, scoring in each of the first five innings as it jumped out to a 10-0 lead. However, Austin Peay only drove in three of its runs in a seven-run burst from the second through the fifth innings.

Tennessee Tech (10-8, 2-3 OVC) would score its first runs of the series in the eighth inning when third baseman Gavin McMean’s drove in a pair of runs with a bases-loaded single, cutting the deficit to 10-3. The Golden Eagles added their fourth run after a leadoff walk worked its way around to score.

Pucheu faced just 23 batters in his 12-strikeout game as he allowed two hits and three walks. He ran his scoreless inning streak to 22 innings with the six scoreless frames.

Phillips led the Govs offense with a 2-for-2, three RBI day that included a double and saw him hit by a pitch twice – his 40th and 41st career times hit by a pitch. Center fielder Garrett Spain, catcher David Martinez and designated hitter Matt Joslin each had a hit and an RBI.

Tennessee Tech starter Mark Leonard (1-1) went just two innings, allowing five runs on six hits. Johns’ 1-for-2, two RBI outing led the Golden Eagles, which posted only five hits.

Moment That Mattered

Only once in Pucheu’s start did he find himself in any trouble. With two out in the fifth inning the Govs starter surrendered a single and back-to-back walks to load the bases with TTU center fielder Kevin Strohschein – a two-time OVC Player of the Year award winner – stepping to the plate.

After yielding a ball of the first pitch, Pucheu got Strohschein to foul off a pair of pitches before inducing a swing-and-miss for the third out to end the threat with the Govs maintaining an 8-0 lead.

 

Water Cooler Chatter

Pucheu Clean Through 22
Jacques Pucheu ran his personal scoreless innings streak to 22 frames with Saturday’s victory. The streak has pushed the senior lefty’s ERA to an impressive 0.87 over 31 innings. Saturday’s win also was Pucheu’s fourth quality start in five outings this season.

Phillips Nears One Record, Extends Another
Parker Phillips’ first-inning home run was hit fifth this season and 36th of his career. He is one homer shy of tying the APSU career mark set by Lance Wampler (1997-00) and matched by Chase Hamilton (2014-17). In addition, Phillips was hit by a pitch twice and extended his career HBP mark to 41.

Next Up For APSU Baseball

APSU Baseball and Tennessee Tech close their three-game OVC set with a 1:00pm, Sunday contest at The Hand. The Governors will turn to right-hander Brandon Vial (0-2, 4.02 ERA) against Golden Eagles righty Thomas Saliba (2-0, 10.38 ERA).

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