Raiders split first day in Bama

Friday, February 19

Montgomery, Ala.

12:00 PM

Middle Tennessee

Nicholls State

2/19/2016 10:47:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

MT loses to Nicholls State before beating UMBC

By: @MT_Athletics

MONTGOMERY, ALA. – Middle Tennessee (3-4) opened the Black & Gold Tournament at Alabama State with a 7-2 loss to Nicholls State (7-1) before defeating the UMBC Retrievers (0-5) 8-4 in the night cap.

The Raiders only managed three hits against Hannah Haydel in the game, each by three different players. Precious Birdsong, Carlie Jenkins and Deja Portillo each picked up a hit as Jenkins landed both of MT's RBIs.

Kelci Cheney again received the start and lasted 5.0 innings, surrendering five runs on four hits as she struck out two. Pattie Taylor relieved Cheney in the circled and in 2.0 innings of work allowed just two runs on four hits.

No one scored until the second when Nicholls State plated the first three runs of the game. Haley Stevenson hit a three-run homer that scored Moriah Strother and Kasey Frederick and the Colonels were off and running, up 3-0.

The score remained the same until the Raider bats got hot in the fourth. Birdsong doubled to lead off the inning. Two batters later Jenkins tripled to bring home Birdsong and Kirstyn Cuccia and just like that MT cut Nicholls State's lead to 3-2.

After a scoreless fifth, Alexis Huss singled to score Amanda Gianelloni and the Colonel lead increased to 4-2 in the top of the sixth. Then with runners on second and third Strother hit Nicholls State's second three-run round tripper of the game over the left field wall. Frederick and Huss scored and the Colonels lead increased to 7-2 where it stayed until the end of the game.

Cheney (2-3) took the loss after pitching into the sixth inning as Haydel (4-1) earned her fourth win of the season.

In game two for Middle Tennessee, the Raiders were able to jump on UMBC early with a six-run first inning. Birdsong led off with a base hit, then advanced to third on an error by the left fielder. Cuccia brought her home with another single, then stole second. Jenkins followed with a walk and Morgan Harris was hit by a pitch to load the bases for Austyn Whaley. Whaley whaled on a pitch and hit a double to center that scored Cuccia and Jenkins and the MT lead increased to 3-0.

After Danielle Munoz walked, Kristin Uselton singled to bring in Harris and Whaley and the lead was 5-0 Raiders. Payton Grove followed with a walk and the bases were loaded for Portillo with still no one out. After a pitching change, UMBC recorded back-to-back outs, but Cuccia came through with a two-out hit that scored Munoz with the team's sixth run for a 6-0 lead after half an inning.

The Retrievers cut the MT lead in half in the third as Tori Alexander doubled, but Alexander and Morgan Peyou were each able to score on an error. Two batters later Nicole Casagrand hit a home run and the Blue Raiders' lead had shrunk to 6-3 after three.

In the next half inning MT got one of those runs back as Cuccia tripled to lead off the fourth. After Jenkins popped up out on the infield, Harris doubled to bring home Cuccia and the Raiders were back on top by four, 7-3.

UMBC was not done scoring yet, as Peyou scored on a groundout by Bridget O'Malley in the fifth to cut the MT lead back to 7-4.

The Raiders added more insurance as Cuccia led off with a double. Two batters later Cuccia scored her third run of the night on a sacrifice fly from Harris and Middle Tennessee had an 8-4 lead.

Cuccia was the player of the game for the Blue Raiders as she went 4-for-4 and was a home run shy of the cycle. The freshman from Murfreesboro also scored three runs and earned two RBI on the night. Payton Grove also had a good game at the plate as she went 2-for-2 with two walks.

Cheney (3-3) evened her record as she went a complete 7.0 innings and allowed four runs, only one of them earned, on four hits and struck out eight while walking none.

Kelly Lane (0-2) took the loss for UMBC as she allowed six runs on four hits and walked three while not recording an out.

Middle Tennessee will be back in action Saturday with two more games as they are scheduled to face UMBC again at 11am before playing host Alabama State at 5pm.