Preator Remains Perfect in Sweep

LAS CRUCES, N.M. - Senior hurler Stayc Preator (21-6) continues her streak of 51.2 innings without allowing a run in Middle Tennessee's (31-16, 7-5 SBC) 8-2, 4-0 wins against New Mexico State (8-53, 1-15 SBC) Sunday.

Middle Tennessee had to come from behind to take the win in game one 8-2. Freshman Jennifer Dorais, in just her second start of the season, picked up the win going 3.2 innings allowing two runs on two hits and striking out four. Preator picked up her third save of the season as she came into the game and threw 2.1 scoreless innings in relief.

Dorais gave up a homerun to New Mexico State's Christine Stephens to lift the Aggies to 1-0 after one inning. New Mexico State added another run in the bottom of the second when Breana Bohls hit a triple and then scored on a passed ball.

Dorais helped herself in the top of the fourth when she hit an RBI single to plate Leah Grothause. Kristina Hieb added the second run on an RBI single that sent home pinch runner Megan Stapleton to tie the game 2-2. Cortney Mitchell picked up an RBI and gave the Lady Raiders the lead when she drew a walk when the bases were loaded.

In the sixth inning Mitchell picked up another RBI when she singled in Erica Buhl. Sophomore Dani DeCamino added two more runs when she hit a blast over the left field wall that went well over 220 feet. Her homer marks the 20^th bomb by the Lady Raiders, and breaks the single season record.

Megan Cherinka added homerun number 21 and her third of the season when she led off the seventh inning with her own shot over the left field wall. Next to bat was Preator who entered the game in the bottom of the fifth inning. Preator got the second hit of her career and then scored the second run of her career on an RBI double by Hieb.

Buhl got the Lady Raiders on the board first in the second game in the bottom of the third when a single turned into a score. She hit a single to left field, and then scored when the ball was misplayed by an Aggie outfielder and Buhl was able to leg it out to score.

In the top of the seventh inning, Middle Tennessee extended its lead as Mitchell got her 24^th double of the season and sent in Katie Tompkins for the second run of the game. DeCamino got her second homerun of the day to pick up Mitchell in a two RBI effort.

Preator threw four innings in game two and allowed just one hit and struck out six. Freshman Valerie Swanson came into the game and threw three scoreless innings allowing just one hit and struck out 1 in her third save of the season

Middle Tennessee will host its final home games of the season on May 3-4 when Sun Belt foe Florida International comes to town. The Lady Raiders will combine Alumni Weekend, to celebrate their 10-year anniversary, and senior day over the course of the weekend.