Jacob James becomes all-time strikeout leader - University of North Alabama Athletics (2024)

CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. (May 16, 2024) –With a second inning strikeout, North Alabama left-handed pitcher Jacob James moves into sole possession of first place on UNA's all-time strikeout list on Thursday in Clarksville, Tenn., surpassing Chad Boughner at 280. The Lions dropped the series opener 13-2 to Austin Peay.

James ended the game with 282 strikeouts, and now sits at 103 on the season.

James entered the season tied for sixth on the list with Brantley Claunch before turning in a new career high for most strikeouts in a season with 103. He is just the seventh UNA pitcher to strike out at least 100 batters in a season and the first since Tyler Joyner struck out 111 in 2018.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐋𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐊𝐈𝐍𝐆 🦁👑#RoarLions 🦁 https://t.co/LR0sngbPxq pic.twitter.com/y1xcbKFeRy
— North Alabama Baseball (@UNABaseball) May 16, 2024
 

The historic strikeout came on a high fastball to Austin Peay DH/RHP Lyle Miller-Green, a member of the Golden Spikes Award watch list.

Hang on to that baseball ⚾️
Jacob James now has the MOST strikeouts in program history with 281 career punchouts#RoarLions 🦁 pic.twitter.com/Bc6AIq5qeo
— North Alabama Baseball (@UNABaseball) May 16, 2024
 

With the loss, the Lions move to 17-34-1 (9-18-1 ASUN) with just two games remaining in the season, while Austin Peay remains in first place with a 19-9 record in ASUN games and a 35-18 overall record.

Austin Peay opened up the scoring with a trio of first inning singles. The Governors added one run in each of the next three innings before exploding for four runs in the fifth inning to extend the lead to 9-0.

Austin Peay leads all of NCAA Division I baseball in runs, hits, home runs and doubles.

North Alabama added on its first runs of the game in the sixth inning after Andrew Knight followed up a Kyle Machado single with a two-run home run to left-center field. The homer is Knight's ninth of the season, the second most on the team.

With two games remaining in the season, Knight seeks to join Gehrig Frei (15) as one of two UNA players with at least 10 home runs in 2024.

UNA right-handed pitcher Brycen Parrish forced a groundout to open up the sixth before Dane Sykes entered in relief to turn in North Alabama's first scoreless inning on the mound with a strikeout and a groundout.

Parrish allowed just one run and two hits across 1.1 innings. The Florence, Ala. native leads the team with a 3.54 ERA across 18 appearances this season.

After pushing across one run to make the score 10-2, Austin Peay ended the game early in the seventh with a three-run home run from Miller-Green.

Pitchers of Record
W - Jacob Weaver (4-2)
L – Jacob James (5-6)
S – None

COMING UP NEXT

The Lions and Governors square off for a rematch in game two on May 17 at 2 p.m. before closing out the regular season with game three on Saturday, May 18 at 1 p.m.

For more information on North Alabama Athletics, visitwww.roarlions.comand follow UNA Athletics onFacebook,TwitterandInstagram.