Middle Tennesee State University Athletics
Middle Tennessee
11-8, 0
No. 15 Florida Atlantic (FSN)
14-3, 0
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Marc Stewart (3-0)
L: Troutt, Tyler (1-3)
Batting:
2B: Stephen Kerr 1 ; CJ Chatham 1 ; Christian Dicks 1
RBI: Stephen Kerr 2 ; Brett Lashley 1 ; CJ Chatham 2 ; Sean Labsan 1
SF: Sean Labsan 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Stephen Kerr 1 ; Brett Lashley 2 ; Austin Langham 1 ; Gunnar Lambert 1 ; J. Bonilla Traverso 2
Batting:
RBI: Dennis, Austin 1 ; Dupree, Kevin 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Delgado, Riley 1 ; Jarreau, Brad 1
SB: Delgado, Riley 1
HBP: Aucker, Aaron 1
Game Leaders
Players Mentioned
Raiders Drop Game Two to FAU, 7-2
3/19/2016 3:28:00 PM | Baseball
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MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — A two-run first inning wasn't enough for Middle Tennessee on Saturday afternoon as they fell to the Owls of Florida Atlantic, 7-2, at Reese Smith, Jr. Field.
Tyler Troutt took the hill for his fifth start of the season and cruised through the first four innings, allowing no runs and striking out four Owls. But in the fifth, Troutt would surrender five runs on three hits before freshman AJ Spencer would be brought in for relief.
Middle Tennessee (11-8, 1-1) opened scoring in the bottom of the first, initiated by a lead-off single from shortstop Riley Delgado. Delgado would later steal second and then advance to third on a wild pitch.
Austin Dennis then drove in Delgado with an RBI groundout on the next at-bat. The Raiders scored their second and final run of the game when Kevin Dupree knocked in Brad Jurreau on an RBI fielder's choice. The Raiders bats would be held in check the rest of the way by Florida Atlantic's (14-3, 1-1) pitching staff.
"We were efficient early yesterday and were efficient early again today," said head coach Jim McGuire. "We didn't put ourselves in a posting to give ourselves any more opportunities after that."
Troutt worked himself out of an early first inning jam with runners on first and second with no outs thanks to a double play and inning ending ground out. Troutt cruised over the course of the next three innings, strikeout out three straight Owls to end the second and start the third.
The Owls were able to capitalize on the Raider's mistakes, just as the Raiders were able to last night against FAU. The Owls would bat around in the fifth, tacking on five runs, thanks to four walks and three hits — chasing Troutt from the ball game.
Those five runs would be all the Owls needed on Saturday, but tacked on one more in the sixth and one more in the top of the ninth.
Freshman AJ Spencer was the first Raider reliever out of the bullpen, going an inning and two thirds, surrounding one run on two hits and striking out one.
Freshman receiver Carson Lester of Murfreesboro was the one of the few bright spots for the Raiders today, turning in his best performance thus far, throwing three innings, allowing just one run on two hits, and striking out one.
Jake Wyrick will be making his first weekend start this season as he takes the mound for the rubber match against the Owls.
"I thought it was time to give Jake a chance," said McGuire. "So we are throwing him on Sunday to see what he can give us…this is going to be a big start for Jake, excited to see what he can do."
The Raiders and Owls take the field for the series deciding game tomorrow at noon at Reese Smith, Jr. Field.
