EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. – (ESPN CLARKSVILLE) Starter Jacques Pucheu and reliever Bret Newberg combined for a four-hit shutout as Austin Peay State University’s baseball team secured its Ohio Valley Conference three-game series with a 4-0 victory against SIUE, Saturday afternoon at the Simmons Baseball Complex.

It is the third consecutive shutout pieced together by the Governors pitching staff, tying a program record set by the 1970 Governors baseball team. Austin Peay began the shutout streak
Tuesday against Western Kentucky before winning the first two games of its series against SIUE with shutouts.

Pucheu (7-1) worked efficiently throughout his seven-plus innings of work, needing just 90 pitched while facing 28 batters. He would face a runner on third base just twice in the game and only three runners reached scoring position. He would strike out six while allowing four hits and three walks in recording his third straight win.

SIUE (13-31, 4-19 OVC) saw an early scoring opportunity arose in the second when a walk, wild pitch and passed ball put left fielder Brock Hammit on third base with no outs. However, Pucheu got three outs without the ball getting past the pitcher’s mound to end the threat.

Before Pucheu even stepped on the mound, Austin Peay (28-19, 17-9 OVC) provided all the run support he would need. After a pair of walks, left fielder Kyle Wilson drove in the game’s first two runs with a two-out double to right field. Third baseman Garrett Kueber, making his first start since April 15, followed with a single to drive in Wilson for a 3-0 lead.

Wilson led the offense with a 2-for-4, two RBI outing as Austin Peay needed just seven hits in the win. Center fielder Imani Willis also had two hits, including a double.
SIUE first baseman Jared McCunn had two of SIUE’s four hits, finishing the day 2-for-3 with a walk.

Austin Peay and SIUE conclude their three-game OVC set with a 1 p.m., Sunday contest at the Simmons Baseball Complex. The Governors, who will look for their second OVC series sweep of 2018, will turn to right-hander Brandon Vial (2-2, 5.65).