Raiders take two in Alabama

Saturday, February 20

Montgomery, Ala.

11:00 AM

Middle Tennessee

4-4

UMBC

0-7

UMBC

Middle Tennessee

2/21/2016 12:32:00 AM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

MT beats UMBC and Alabama State to win third game in a row

By: @MT_Athletics

MONTGOMERY, ALA. – Middle Tennessee (5-4) earned their first two-win day of the season Saturday at the Black & Gold Tournament in Alabama. They began the day with an eight-inning, 5-4 win over the UMBC Retrievers, then followed with a 9-0 run-rule win over host Alabama State in six innings.

"Our kids played really well today," Head Coach Jeff Breeden said. "We had a lot of contributors who came up big. Pattie Ruth got both wins in the circle and pitched great. Kirstyn Cuccia continues to be on fire. Austyn Whaley's home run was a huge blast to left center field and Megan Griffith played well at short today. We are looking to play well in the morning and finish the weekend on a very good note."

The Raiders got the first run on the board in the first game as Kristin Uselton singled with runners on second and third to score Griffith for the early 1-0 lead.

Middle Tennessee's lead did not last long as UMBC came back with four in the top of the third. Morgan Peyou reached on a fielder's choice that scored Nicole Shavlik to tie the game at 1-1. One batter later Kelly Lane grounded out and brought home Tori Alexander for a 2-1 UMBC advantage. Kaelin Jackson followed with a two-run homer and the Retrievers quickly gained momentum, up 4-1.

The Raiders got back into the game with a big fifth inning. Cuccia earned an RBI base hit and Carlie Jenkins followed with a double to put runners on second and third. Morgan Harris grounded out, but Cuccia scored on the play and quickly MT had cut the UMBC lead to one. Griffith followed with a base hit that scored Jenkins and the Raiders had come all the way back to tie the game.

It remained tied until the eighth when Harris, who began the inning on second in favor of the international tie-breaker rule, advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by Griffith. Danielle Munoz followed with a sacrifice fly that scored Harris and the Raiders took a 5-4 win.

Uselton had the only two-hit game for MT as she went 2-for-3 with one RBI. Five different Raiders scored the five runs in the game as five different players picked up the five RBIs as well for a balanced score sheet.

Kelci Cheney earned the start in the circle and allowed four runs on six hits and struck out three in 5.0 innings of work. Taylor (1-0) came in in relief and received her first win of the season throwing 3.0 innings of shutout ball. Taylor allowed just three hits and struck out two in the outing.

The Raiders started slow against the host Alabama State in their second game. There was no score until the third when Harris reached on an error that allowed Cuccia to score for a 1-0 MT lead.

Middle Tennessee picked up two more runs in the fourth as Cuccia came up with a two-RBI double. The lead increased to 3-0 but the Raiders were not done just yet.

Whaley earned her first home run of the season in the top of the fifth. It was a three-run blast that scored Uselton and Lauren Payne and MT had control up 6-0.

The Raiders added three more in the sixth for good measure as Cuccia scored on a throwing error. Three batters later Harris also scored on a fielding miscue by Alabama State and Griffith scored on an Uselton groundout and MT's lead increased to 9-0, making the game official after six innings.

Taylor (2-0) impressed again, as she pitched another 6.0 shutout innings to bring her total to 9.0 shutout innings on the day. In game two, Taylor scattered five hits and stuck-out four of the 22 batters she faced to pick up her second win of the season.

Cuccia went 2-for-2 in the second game with two runs, two RBIs and two walks. Jenkins earned a 2-for-3 game as she picked up an RBI. Whaley's home run gave her a three RBI game as she finished 1-for-4 with a run scored.

The Raiders finish the Black & Gold Tournament Sunday with another matchup against Nicholls State scheduled for noon. MT is looking to avenge a 7-2 loss to the Colonels in their first game Friday.