Bishop Hits Three Homers in 12-9 Victory

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - Rawley Bishop hit three home runs, Blake McDade had two homers and Adam Warren hit one round-tripper, as Middle Tennessee scored in all but two innings en route to a 12-9 victory over Belmont Wednesday at Reese Smith Field.

Bishop tied the single-game record for home runs held by five other players, the last being Michael McKenry on May 8, 2005, versus Florida International. Middle Tennessee (24-21) swept the season series with Belmont (24-18) and scored six runs in the middle of the game after two were out in the inning.

Zach Barrett also went 4-for-4 and scored twice for the Blue Raiders. Bishop drove in four runs, McDade had three RBIs and Warren two. Wayne Kendrick and Drew Robertson added a pair of hits in the win. Middle Tennessee does not play again until May 4 against Florida Atlantic.

The Blue Raiders scored twice in the second inning on consecutive home runs by Bishop and McDade. With two outs in the third Kendrick singled and Bishop followed with a two-run blast. In the fourth Barrett doubled with two outs and Robertson drove home the run with single to center. Then in the fifth with two outs, Bishop, McDade and Warren hit back-to-back-to-back home runs to give the Blue Raiders an 8-2 advantage.

Middle Tennessee starter Tyler Copeland (2-1) worked 5.1 innings to get the victory, scattering seven hits. The lefthander allowed two runs, struck out two and did not walk a batter.

Belmont starter Ryan Ashner (1-2) took the loss, giving up eight runs on 10 hits in five innings. He allowed all six home runs and struck out three.

The Bruins got on the board first with a pair of runs in the second on four hits. Derek Wiley and Ben Petsch both singled to leadoff before a two-run double to rightcenter from Kane Simmons. On the play the Blue Raiders appealed whether Wiley touched third base, setting off a 14-minute delay that involved all three umpires and both coaches.

Wiley was called out on the initial appeal and then the call was reversed. Ryan Kincherlow reached on an infield single later in the inning, but Copeland induced a 1-6-3 doubleplay from Brady Manifold to end the inning without any more damage.

The Blue Raiders tied the contest in the bottom of the inning with back-to-back home runs. Bishop hit a 2-2 pitch over the wall in leftcenter, his 11th homer of the year and first since April 3. McDade followed with his fourth round-tripper of the season, his second in four contests, tying the game at two.

Kendrick doubled with two outs in the Middle Tennessee third before Bishop belted his second homer of the night, this one to rightfield, for a 4-2 Blue Raider lead.

Another two-out rally in the fourth pushed the Middle Tennessee advantage to three runs. Barrett doubled, his second two-bagger of the game, and Robertson followed with an RBI single to center.

The Raiders scored three more times in the fifth on back-to-back-to-back home runs, once again with two outs. Bishop hit his third homer of the contest, just to the left of the 24-foot wall in centerfield. McDade followed with a solo shot to right, barely clearing the wall. Warren then hit his second homer in two games, his fifth of the season, for an 8-2 Middle Tennessee lead.

Belmont cut into the deficit in the sixth after Wilson Tucker was hit to leadoff. Petsch singled with one out before Simmons hit a three-run shot to right, his ninth round-tripper of the year.

But the Blue Raiders came right back in the bottom of the inning with two runs. Barrett blooped a single into short center and Robertson put down a sacrifice bunt. Robertson beat out the bunt and BU reliever Nick Whitaker's throw was wild and sailed all the way down the rightfield line. Barrett scored on the play and Robertson moved all the way to third.

Matt Ray followed with an infield single to put runners on the corners and a sacrifice fly to deep center by Myles Ervin plated Robertson for a 10-5 lead.

Belmont threatened in the seventh after a leadoff walk to pinch-hitter Carlo Testa and a single by Manifold. But reliever Jordan Alvis came in to get a doubleplay from Matt Reynolds and a popout from Packy Elkins to end the inning.

Wiley's towering home run to left with one out in the eighth, his eighth of the season, cut the Blue Raider lead to 10-6. Petsch walked later in the inning and Simmons was hit, but Ryan Wagner bounced into an inning-ending 4-6-3 doubleplay, the fourth twin-killing of the game for Middle Tennessee.

The Blue Raiders added two more runs in the eighth. Ervin was hit with one out, Kendrick singled to center and Bishop walked to load the bases. McDade's grounder plated a run and Warren's fielder's choice scored another for a 12-6 advantage.

The Bruins scored three times in the ninth, starting with a leadoff walk to Testa and a one-out single from Matt Reynolds. Elkins tripled to leftcenter, scoring two runs, and a sacrifice fly by Wilson Tucker made it a 12-9 contest. Brett Reilley came on to get the final two outs of the contest and preserve Middle Tennessee's fifth straight non-conference victory.

The Blue Raiders are off this weekend because of the odd number of teams in the Sun Belt Conference and do not play next week because of final exams.