Raiders take on Southern Miss in C-USA opener

Saturday, March 12

Murfreesboro, Tenn.

11AM

Middle Tennessee

Southern Miss

3/11/2016 12:58:00 PM | Softball

MT faces Golden Eagles at 11 a.m. Saturday, noon Sunday

By: @MT_Athletics

MURFREESBORO – Middle Tennessee (11-11) will play their home opener, which will also be their conference opener, this weekend when they host the Southern Miss Golden Eagles (13-11). Saturday's double header was originally scheduled for 2 p.m., but due to the likelihood of bad weather, it's been moved to 11 a.m. Sunday's game is still scheduled for noon.

Southern Miss finished last season 20-14 and 9-7 in Conference USA, but like the Raiders they missed the conference tournament. This season the Golden Eagles are 13-11 and are being led at the plate by Morgan McKeever. McKeever has a .375 average and has started all 24 Southern Miss games so this season. McKeever has scored 13 runs and has 13 RBIs to go along with five extra base hits, but has not left the yard just yet.

The circle will likely be occupied by Samantha Robles who has a team leading 3.31 ERA and an 8-4 record in 13 starts. In 84.2 innings pitched Robles has allowed 52 runs on 91 hits, walked 23 and struck out 54 as opponents are hitting .278 off of her. Danielle Block could also see some time on the rubber as she is 3-3 with a 5.79 ERA in eight starts. Block has given up 38 runs on 54 hits, walked 19 and struck out 19 in 32.2 innings pitched.

Middle Tennessee is led by a couple of outstanding freshmen. Murfreesboro native and Blackman grad Kirstyn Cuccia leads the team with a .391 batting average as she has started all 22 of the Raiders contests. Cuccia has scored one home run and 25 RBIs to go with 19 runs scored. Five of her seven extra base hits have doubles as her slugging percentage is .536. The freshman has also been patient at the plate as she has earned seven walks for a .443 on base percentage and her four stolen bases are second only to Precious Birdsong on the team.

Payton Grove is another outstanding freshman as she is second in most offensive categories to Cuccia. Grove's .338 average has helped her to produce one homer, six RBIs, six runs scored and four doubles.

The pitching staff started the season well, but has struggled recently. Kelci Cheney will likely start two of the games this weekend as the senior has a 7-6 record with a team leading 3.73 ERA. Cheney has started 14 of her 16 appearances and has allowed 53 runs on 85 hits in 80.2 innings. The senior right hander has also walked 29 and struck out 43.

Pattie Taylor could start the second game of the double header Saturday as she has a 3-2 record with a 3.95 ERA. Taylor has started three games, but she's been a bullpen regular making nine appearances out of the pen. In 33.2 innings she's allowed 19 runs on 48 hits, walked five and struck out 14.