Middle Tennesee State University Athletics
Newcomers Aid in Raider Softball Hot Start
2/21/2017 4:40:00 PM | Softball
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – Middle Tennessee's softball team is off to one of its best starts in program history, and it may be slightly surprising how it got there.
After losing the season opener 4-0 to No. 15 Tennessee, the Blue Raiders rattled off five-straight wins to sport a 5-1 record through six games for the first time ever. They now sit at 6-3, a mark that was only bested when the 1994 and 2004 teams started 7-2, and they rank in the top three in Conference USA in several offensive and pitching categories.
Hot play to start a season like MT is experiencing is usually indicative of a team with a load of players who've been in the program for multiple years. In the Raiders' case, though, it is newcomers who have allowed them to get out of the gates quickly.
Six freshmen have played extensive time so far for the Blue Raiders, while their two most-used pitchers are transfer students in their first year in Murfreesboro.
"We're getting good contributions out of a lot of people," head coach Jeff Breeden said. "We expected them to play well and help lead us, and they have."
Juniors Gretchen Greer and Cori Jennings, transfer students from Columbia State Community College and the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, respectively, have helped solidify the MT pitching staff.
After registering a 4.29 ERA and 1.7-to-1 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 2016, the Blue Raiders are down to a 2.35 ERA and have a 2.7-to-1 strikeout-to-walk ratio this season. They've also already recorded four complete games with Greer and Jennings leading the way, well on pace to pass last year's total of 20.
Jennings currently has a 3-2 record in six appearances – four starts – with a 2.33 ERA, and her three complete games rank third in C-USA.
Greer, a JUCO All-American at CSCC last season, has a 2-0 record in three starts with a 2.06 ERA, and she averages 5.76 strikeouts per 7 innings.
"Judging by our fall games and how we pitched in practice, I expected us to be successful," Greer said. "We're very controlled and throw a lot of strikes.
"We all mesh well and get along well, and we play well together."
While transfer students are guiding Middle Tennessee in the circle, its freshmen are adding to the depth in the lineup.
Led by Keely McGee, Summer Burgess and Lexi Cushing, MT freshmen lead or are tied for the lead on the team in at-bats, doubles and homeruns. Cushing is tied for second in C-USA with three homeruns, while McGee and Burgess are tied for second in the league with four doubles apiece.
It's often hard to gauge how well freshmen will start their first collegiate season, but Breeden isn't surprised at the success of his freshmen in the lineup.
"There's nothing that's surprised us so far," he said. "We expected them to do well, and they are.
"I think the fact that they played on high-caliber summer teams and went to a lot of high-caliber tournaments and did really well in those tournaments has made it not as big of a culture shock for them."
Though it is still early in the season, Middle Tennessee is fighting to improve on its 23-31 record from a season ago. It would make four-straight seasons of win improvements over the previous year, all of which have come under Breeden.
If they want to reach that goal, it will have to be consistent play from the Blue Raiders' newcomers that helps steer the ship.
"I think they just have to go out there and not worry about who we're playing and just compete against the game," Breeden said. "They just have to play. We have to get more repetitions and worry about if we can execute our offense and play solid defense."
MT travels to South Alabama this weekend for a tournament with the host Jaguars, Texas A&M – Corpus Christi, and Stephen F. Austin. Fans will then get the chance to see the Blue Raiders at home for the first time this season against Austin Peay on March 1.
After losing the season opener 4-0 to No. 15 Tennessee, the Blue Raiders rattled off five-straight wins to sport a 5-1 record through six games for the first time ever. They now sit at 6-3, a mark that was only bested when the 1994 and 2004 teams started 7-2, and they rank in the top three in Conference USA in several offensive and pitching categories.
Hot play to start a season like MT is experiencing is usually indicative of a team with a load of players who've been in the program for multiple years. In the Raiders' case, though, it is newcomers who have allowed them to get out of the gates quickly.
Six freshmen have played extensive time so far for the Blue Raiders, while their two most-used pitchers are transfer students in their first year in Murfreesboro.
"We're getting good contributions out of a lot of people," head coach Jeff Breeden said. "We expected them to play well and help lead us, and they have."
Juniors Gretchen Greer and Cori Jennings, transfer students from Columbia State Community College and the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, respectively, have helped solidify the MT pitching staff.
After registering a 4.29 ERA and 1.7-to-1 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 2016, the Blue Raiders are down to a 2.35 ERA and have a 2.7-to-1 strikeout-to-walk ratio this season. They've also already recorded four complete games with Greer and Jennings leading the way, well on pace to pass last year's total of 20.
Jennings currently has a 3-2 record in six appearances – four starts – with a 2.33 ERA, and her three complete games rank third in C-USA.
Greer, a JUCO All-American at CSCC last season, has a 2-0 record in three starts with a 2.06 ERA, and she averages 5.76 strikeouts per 7 innings.
"Judging by our fall games and how we pitched in practice, I expected us to be successful," Greer said. "We're very controlled and throw a lot of strikes.
"We all mesh well and get along well, and we play well together."
While transfer students are guiding Middle Tennessee in the circle, its freshmen are adding to the depth in the lineup.
Led by Keely McGee, Summer Burgess and Lexi Cushing, MT freshmen lead or are tied for the lead on the team in at-bats, doubles and homeruns. Cushing is tied for second in C-USA with three homeruns, while McGee and Burgess are tied for second in the league with four doubles apiece.
It's often hard to gauge how well freshmen will start their first collegiate season, but Breeden isn't surprised at the success of his freshmen in the lineup.
"There's nothing that's surprised us so far," he said. "We expected them to do well, and they are.
"I think the fact that they played on high-caliber summer teams and went to a lot of high-caliber tournaments and did really well in those tournaments has made it not as big of a culture shock for them."
Though it is still early in the season, Middle Tennessee is fighting to improve on its 23-31 record from a season ago. It would make four-straight seasons of win improvements over the previous year, all of which have come under Breeden.
If they want to reach that goal, it will have to be consistent play from the Blue Raiders' newcomers that helps steer the ship.
"I think they just have to go out there and not worry about who we're playing and just compete against the game," Breeden said. "They just have to play. We have to get more repetitions and worry about if we can execute our offense and play solid defense."
MT travels to South Alabama this weekend for a tournament with the host Jaguars, Texas A&M – Corpus Christi, and Stephen F. Austin. Fans will then get the chance to see the Blue Raiders at home for the first time this season against Austin Peay on March 1.
Players Mentioned
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