CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – (ESPN CLARKSVILLE) Right fielder Parker Phillips hit two late home runs as Austin Peay State University’s baseball team pulled away for a 7-1 Ohio Valley Conference victory against SIUE, Saturday afternoon on Joe Maynard Field at Raymond C. Hand Park.

SIUE (16-24, 8-12 OVC) would strike first in Saturday’s game, taking advantage of an uneven start by Govs starter Jacques Pucheu. Shortstop Jordan Ross led off the inning with a double and the Cougars quickly worked to take advantage, using a sacrifice bunt to move Ross to third. After a walk, SIUE would use another sacrifice, this time by right fielder Dustin Woodcock, to drive in the run and take a 1-0 lead.

However, Pucheu quickly locked in after surrendering the run. He would retire 13 of the next 15 batters he faced and saw the only batter who reached in that stretch wiped out by a double play. Pucheu would stretch his start into the eighth inning where a one-out single would end his day.

Pucheu’s performance after giving up the run gave the Govs offense plenty of time to help out their starter and they broke through in the fifth inning. Third baseman Gino Avros opened the frame with a single and quickly advanced to second on a wild pitch. Second baseman Malcolm Tipler followed with a single through the right side.

The Cougars would help the Govs as Avros scored after the SIUE right fielder misplayed the ball. Tipler would later score the go-ahead run after a trio of wild pitches allowed him to move around the bases, giving the Govs a 2-1 lead.

Austin Peay (23-18, 15-8 OVC) would extend its lead in the seventh and eighth innings thanks to Phillips’ home runs. His two run blast to right center in the seventh gave the Govs a 4-1 lead. In the eighth, designated hitter John McDonald led off the inning with a home run and four batters later Phillips would add his second two-run homer of the afternoon, extending the lead to 7-1.
Pucheu (6-2) picked up his season’s sixth victory after holding SIUE to one run while scattering two hits over 7.1 innings. He would work around five walks while striking out five batters. The Govs bullpen combined for 1.2 scoreless innings, striking out two.

Phillips ended the day 2-for-3 with two home runs, four RBI and was walked twice. Second baseman Malcolm Tipler went 4-for-4 and scored twice. Avros and McDonald also had two hits each.
SIUE starter Kenny Serwa suffered his first loss this season after allowing two runs on five hits and two walks over four-plus innings. The Cougars offense was held to three hits on the day.

Austin Peay and SIUE close out their three-game OVC series with a 1 p.m., Sunday contest at Raymond C. Hand Park.