CLEMSON, S.C. – (ESPN CLARKSVILLE) Starting pitcher Jacques Pucheu struck out a career-high tying 10 batters, but Austin Peay State University’s baseball team saw nationally-ranked Clemson pull away late for a 10-1 nonconference victory, Saturday, at Doug Kingsmore Stadium.
Saturday’s contest started as a pitcher’s duel through six innings with Pucheu nearly matching Clemson starter Brooks Crawford stride for stride. Both starters would make it into the seventh inning with the host Tigers holding a 3-1 lead.
Clemson (38-13) struck first with shortstop Logan Davidson hitting a leadoff home run in the first inning. The Tigers would have an opportunity to extend the lead but Pucheu rallied to retire three consecutive batters with runners on the corners.
Austin Peay (30-21) waited until the third inning to level the score but did so with three consecutive singles. Catcher David Martinez, second baseman Garret Giovannelli and third baseman Garrett Kueber all hit safely, Kueber tying the game, 1-1.
The Tigers would break the tie in its half of the third, taking advantage of a leadoff walk, a Governors error and a wild pitch to plate a run. Clemson’s lead would grow by another run in the fifth as another leadoff walk was plated on Davidson’s double.
Austin Peay would twice get a runner in scoring position in the game’s middle stages. Left fielder Kyle Wilson was that man in scoring position both times, reaching second on a fly ball error in the fourth and on a double in the sixth. However, the Governors were stymied in trying to score him each time by Crawford.
Pucheu (7-2) scattered three hits in his 6.1-inning outing, striking out 10 and walking five batters en route to four runs allowed. His career-high tying 10 strikeouts included a nearly immaculate inning in the second where he struck out the side on 11 pitches.
Austin Peay and Clemson now turn their attention to the rubber game of the three-game set, slated for noon (CT), Sunday.