Austin Peay State University Sports Information
Cape Girardeau, MO – The Austin Peay State University (APSU) baseball team saw a pair of miscues cost it a late lead as Southeast Missouri rallied in the eighth inning for a 7-4 Ohio Valley Conference victory, Saturday, at Capaha Field.
Austin Peay (10-10, 5-3 OVC) scored the game’s first here runs only to see the Redhawks respond with the game’s next three runs, tying the game 3-3 after six innings.
The Governors would break that tie in the top of the seventh thanks to a little help from the Southeast Missouri bullpen.
In the seventh, APSU saw its first four batters reach base safely, but it only led to a bases-loaded situation with one out as the Redhawks cut down a runner attempting to steal second base.
Catcher David Martinez made sure the opportunity didn’t go to waste, his high chopper to shortstop allowing a run to score.
Austin Peay would load the base again, but another high chopper off first baseman John McDonald’s bat didn’t allow another run to score.
Southeast Missouri (13-10, 3-5 OVC) would return the favor one inning later, using a pair of miscues by the Governors bullpen to produce runs. Back-to-back singles started the inning, but a wild throw to first on the second hit allowed a run to score. The Redhawks would load the bases after a pair of one-out walks, forcing a Govs pitching change.
The pitching change was unable to stem the Redhawks run. Third baseman Alex Nielsen’s sacrifice fly allowed Tyler Wilver to sprint home under the tag to give SEMO its first lead of the series. Catcher Andrew Keck followed with an infield single that allowed another run to score and a failed pickoff surrendered another insurance run as the Redhawks finished the inning leading 7-4.
Govs starter Jacques Pucheu extended his scoreless innings streak to 26 frames as he held the Redhawks scoreless through four innings. However, he allowed three runs over the next two frames before departing after six innings and left with no decision.
Reliever Tyler Thompson (1-1) suffered his first loss of the season after allowing four runs, three earned, on two hits and two walks over 1.1 innings.
Southeast Missouri reliever Aaron Stretch (1-1) tossed 2.2 scoreless innings to earn the win. Catcher Andrew Keck went 2-for-4 with two RBI, including a solo home run in the fifth and an RBI single in the eighth.
Moment That Mattered
With two out in the fifth, the middle of the Governors order went to work with center fielder Garrett Spain singling and catcher David Martinez earning a walk. Left fielder Malcolm Tipler followed by lining the ball down the left field line and to the wall.
Spain scored easily on the play but Martinez was cut down at home by a nearly perfect relay play, denying the Govs a 4-0 lead and ending the Govs threat.
Water Cooler Chatter
All Good Things Must End
Governors starting pitcher Jacques Pucheu entered his season’s six start riding a scoreless inning streak of 22 frames. He promptly ran the streak to 25 innings by retiring the first 10 batters he faced. Pucheu escaped the fourth without allowing a run but saw a one-out solo home run in the fifth bring the streak to an end at 26 innings.
Scoreless Streak Talk
Pucheu’s 26-scoreless inning streak set the Governors record for longest stretch of innings without allowing a run. The previous mark was 22.1 innings pitched by reliever Tyler Rogers in 2012.
What The Result Means
With both Belmont and Murray State losing while the game was ongoing, Austin Peay had an opportunity to move into a tie for first place in the league with a win. Instead, the Governors slip into a third-place tie based on percentage points with Murray State, trailing Belmont and an idle Morehead State side.
Next Up For APSU Baseball
Austin Peay State University Baseball and Southeast Missouri, who have split the first who games in the series, will play the series finale at 1 p.m., Sunday.
