WCC VIDEO RELEASE

MALIBU, Calif. - The accolades keep rolling in for Pepperdine ace A.J. Puckett as he was awarded his second straight West Coast Conference Pitcher of the Week honor, following a complete-game shutout last Friday.

Puckett was named WCC Pitcher of the Week the previous week following 7.0 scoreless innings on the road at LMU. The righty led the Waves to a 4-0 win over Portland at home last Friday in what was the team's fourth straight series win.

Puckett continued his tear through the last seven weeks of the season, tossing a complete-game shutout against Portland to run his streak to 54.2 consecutive innings without giving up an earned run and 43.0 consecutive innings without a run of any kind. The Pepperdine ace was masterful in his Friday start, leading the Waves to a series opening win with his first complete game of the year.

Puckett struck out a career-high 12 batters and did not allow a walk on the day, letting only one runner past first base all game. The junior faced only one runner above the minimum, scattering seven hits in the game. He picked off two runners at first and then induced three double plays and got a play at the plate from his defense to keep the Pilots off the board.

Puckett threw 103 pitches in the game, 65 of them for strikes. The Pepperdine hurler now has a league-leading 1.01 ERA on the year and is 7-2. He has not given up an earned run since March 4, allowing just two unearned runs during that time. His 43.0 scoreless innings date back to March 18, spanning his last five starts.

The Waves have a week off before Puckett will again take the mound, resuming action at No. 20 UC Santa Barbara on May 3. Puckett is probable to start Pepperdine's home series opener against BYU on May 5.