What's better than one dominant, flame-throwing left-handed pitcher who struck out more than a batter per inning?
How about two?
Because that's just what Austin Peay enjoyed in its weekend rotation this season, as Michael Costanzo and Jacques Pucheu became the Ohio Valley Conference's best one-two punch, becoming just the second and third players in Austin Peay history with 100 strikeouts in a single season.
The Friday night starter from Opening Day, Costanzo's senior season was among the best in school history and culminated in his being a 31st round selection in the 2018 MLB Draft by the Tampa Bay Rays. He finished the year 9-2 with 104 strikeouts in 89.2 innings, including dominant performances against Indiana State (7.0 innings, two hits, eight strikeouts), Murray State (5.1 innings, two hits, nine strikeouts), Morehead State (8.0 innings, one earned run), six shutout innings at SIU Edwardsville and the win against fifth-ranked Clemson after 6.0 innings, six strikeouts and eight hits (three earned runs) against the Tigers.
Costanzo finished his career with 229 strikeouts (sixth-most in program history) and 19 career wins (eighth all-time).
Pucheu finished with a 7-4 record in his first full season in the weekend rotation. He enjoyed a breakout in his season debut with 5.1 innings of two-hit, nine-strikeout ball and kept up the pace all season, with seven quality starts among his 12 appearances. He posted two 10-strikeout games (against Southeast Missouri and fifth-ranked Clemson) and twirled a masterful 7.0 inning, four-hit, no-run performance against SIU Edwardsville for his season's final victory.
With his fifth strikeout in his appearance against Eastern Kentucky in the OVC Tournament, he joined Costanzo and Casey Delgado (2013) as the only players in Austin Peay history with 100 strikeouts in a season.
The duo earned All-OVC honors, with Costanzo a first-team pick and Pucheu earning a second-team nod.
Previous 2017-18 Top-10 entries
No. 10 -- Giant-killing Govs take down top foes
No. 9 -- Govs host Bethel at Fort Campbell
No. 8 -- Amato's amazing junior campaign
