Alan Dunn can recall a particular summer night.
It was when he received a phone call about Jared Poche’ turning down a chance to play professionally and returning for his senior season with the Tigers.
Poche’ was drafted in the 14th round of the 2016 MLB draft by the San Diego Padres.
“When I got the call that he had decided he was coming back to LSU, that was probably one of my best summer night sleeps,” the pitching coach said. “Look at what Jared Poche’ has done for us. For three years, he’s been the epitome of a workhorse. What we look for when our guys take the mound is ­give us an opportunity, keep us in the game and give us a chance to win. That’s their job.”
This season may be different for Poche’ as he has the opportunity to be the most winningest pitcher in LSU’s history. Poche’ needs 11 wins to tie the school’s all-time wins record and 12 to break it.
“That would be an unbelievable honor for me,” Poche’ said. “I don’t go out there and win a game by myself. It takes all nine guys that are out on that field with you each and every day.”
Coach Paul Mainieri added that Poche’ is already one of the greatest pitchers to play at LSU, and having the most wins in LSU’s history would be quite an accomplishment.
“Poche’ is the only pitcher in the history of LSU baseball to win nine games in each of his first three years,” Mainieri said. “This guy has got 27 career wins, and I think if he wins 11 this year, he’ll tie for the most wins in the history of LSU baseball. What a remarkable accomplishment that would be.”
Poche’ doesn’t look at the record as his goal, but rather going out on the field and winning games for the purple and gold.
“The way I see it is that if I go out there and win 11 games, that means we’re having an unbelievable year and that we are going to win a lot of games,” Poche’ said.
Poche’ has received praise from his teammates about accomplishing this goal.
Junior pitcher Alex Lange is happy for his teammate and friend and thinks Poche’ has a great opportunity in front of him.
“I think Poche’ has got a really good chance to do it,” Lange said. “Obviously, his track record speaks for itself and how successful he’s been here at school. It’s fun to be a around a teammate like that.”
Senior second baseman Cole Freeman knows it’s going to take a team effort to help Poche’ get to 12 wins this year and is excited for the opportunity to play behind him.
“Just play our butts off on defense,” Freeman said. “When we get in that batter’s box and do whatever we can to score as many runs for him because we know every time he’s on the mound he’s going to leave it all out on that field. We’re going to do whatever we can to help him get that record.”