Blue Raider Softball's Season Ends with 3-0 Loss to Troy

MIAMI, Fla. - A three-run homerun by Troy's Jessica Lyle, in the bottom of the seventh inning, ended Middle Tennessee softball's season in the Sun Belt Championships Friday at University Park on the campus of Florida International. The Blue Raiders (19-42-1) lost to the Trojans (30-39) 3-0.

With two outs and runners on first and second, Blue Raider hurler Laura Moore gave up the three-run bomb to Lyle over the right field wall. Moore opened the inning by giving up a lead-off single to Caurie Miller who advanced to second thanks to a sacrifice bunt by pinch hitter Candace Sasser. Troy's Angie Coteat was called out on strikes for the second out of the inning, but Troy got a break when Moore walked Brittany Krebec which set up the homerun by Lyle.

Middle Tennessee had its chances in the game. The Blue Raiders looked to score early when they had runners on second and third with two outs to start the game. However, Martha Davis was tagged out at home to halt the Blue Raider threat.

The Blue Raiders had runners in scoring position in four different innings, twice at third base, and couldn't push a run across. In total, the club stranded six base runners in the game and could muster just six hits. Middle Tennessee ends the season by scoring only three runs in its last 38 innings of the year.

Moore did have one of her best outings in recent games, prior to giving up the homerun to Lyle, tossing six scoreless innings. She ended the game giving up seven hits, three runs and striking out three. She ends the year with a record of 9-17.

Six different Blue Raiders picked up a hit in the game, but none could string together a multiple hit performance.

NOTES: Middle Tennessee lost its final six games of the season to close out the year ... Junior shortstop Shelby Stiner ends the year leading the team in batting average with a .339 ... Junior Muriel Ledbetter was the only other Blue Raider hitter to end the year above .300 in batting with a .327 ... Ledbetter led the team in walks (30), homeruns (11) and doubles (17) ... Stiner's 59 hits ranks her eighth in the Blue Raider single season record books ... Moore's 72 strikeouts is the most for a Blue Raider pitcher in two years ... Melissa Weiland's 16 career homeruns ranks her third on the Blue Raider career record books and the junior from Murfreesboro needs just eight homeruns next season to break the single-season record.