Middle Tennesee State University Athletics
Tuesday, March 28
Nashville, TN
4 PM
Middle Tennessee
10-14
6
at
4
Belmont
10-13
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
R
H
E
Middle Tennessee
0
0
3
0
0
1
0
2
0
6
13
1
Belmont
0
0
0
0
2
2
0
0
0
4
7
2
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Small, Will (1-0)
L: KLOTZ, K. (1-2)
S: Dennis, Austin (2)
Batting:
2B: Kemp, Ryan 1
RBI: Jarreau, Brad 1 ; Dennis, Austin 2 ; Benefield, Blake 1 ; Antonini, Aaron 2
SH: Huff, Drew 1 ; Kemp, Ryan 1
SF: Antonini, Aaron 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Jarreau, Brad 1 ; Lopez, Manuel 2 ; Kemp, Ryan 2 ; Benefield, Blake 1
Batting:
2B: HADDEN, C. 1
HR: WALSH, T. 1
RBI: BOURNIGAL, R 1 ; KOCHER, B. 1 ; WALSH, T. 2
Base Running:
RUNS: EGLI, N. 1 ; BOURNIGAL, R 1 ; KOCHER, B. 1 ; WALSH, T. 1
SB: EGLI, N. 1 ; BOURNIGAL, R 1
CS: CONGER,K. 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
rf/p
AB
5
R
0
H
3
RBI
2
AB
5
R
1
H
2
RBI
1
AB
4
R
1
H
2
RBI
1
Players Mentioned
C
/ BaseballOF/IF
/ BaseballOF/IF
/ BaseballOF
/ Baseball
OF
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
RHP/OF
/ Baseball
IF
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
Raiders Bear Down, Win 6-4 at Belmont
3/28/2017 8:28:00 PM | Baseball
Solid pitching and 13 hits were the keys to MT's victory
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Middle Tennessee used 13 hits and key pitching in the 6-4 win at Belmont Tuesday afternoon at E. S. Rose Park.
The Blue Raiders (10-14) found quality pitching for the second game in a row, holding the Bruins (10-13) to five hits in the contest.
"Two well-pitched games in a row, and that's so important from where we've been, and the progression that we are making," said Head Coach Jim McGuire. "The last two games we have really pitched well and hopefully it's trending to go that way, for the rest of the way."
In just his second appearance of the season, Will Small (1-0) was crucial to the Blue Raiders' solid day on the mound, picking up his first win of the season. The senior threw a season-high three scoreless innings, while only allowing two hits, after relieving starter Grant Williams.
Williams impressed in his third start of the season, hurling a career-high 5-2/3 innings. The freshman gave up only one hit through the first four innings. The Hendersonville, Tenn., native found himself in some trouble in the fifth and sixth innings, giving up a total of four runs on five hits.
"I thought Williams was very good, he was dominant at times, throwing anything he wanted at times for a strike," said McGuire. "He is very poised and nothing bothers him, I thought overall he pitched very well."
The Blue Raiders and Bruins were tied 4-4 heading into the eighth inning. Manuel Lopez, who made his first career start, led off the inning with a walk. Kevin Sullivan came in to pinch run for Lopez. Next play, second baseman Ryan Kemp laid down a sacrifice bunt that Belmont's pitcher, Kyle Klotz could not handle. Klotz threw the ball away, advancing the runners to second and third, no outs.
Sophomore Blake Benefield grounded out to the third baseman, scoring Sullivan. The next batter was freshman Aaron Antonini who delivered a single through the right side, scoring Kemp.
"We scored the two runs in the eighth, which was huge, Antonini came up not having a lot of at-bats, but he got up there and got a hit when we needed it to get us to a two run lead." stated McGuire.
The Blue Raiders led 6-4 heading to the ninth where Small put down the first two batters and two-way player Austin Dennis (2), was called in from right field to seal the win. Dennis earned his second save of the year striking out the only batter he faced.
MT jumped on Belmont early, when Kemp stroked a leadoff double down the left field line in the third inning. Benefield followed with a single to right field. Antonini used a sacrifice fly to score Kemp. Senior Brad Jarreau hit another single and advanced to second on the throw.
Dennis roped a two-RBI single to left field scoring Benefield and Jarreau. The Blue Raiders accounted for six hits in the inning and led 3-0 after three frames.
Dennis finished 3-of-5, and was one of four Blue Raiders with multi-hit games. Jarreau went 2-of-5 with a run and RBI, Kemp went 2-of-4 with two runs, while Benefield finished 2-of-4 with a run and RBI.
The Blue Raiders will be back in action tomorrow to take on Austin Peay at Reese Smith Jr. Field. Sophomore AJ Spencer gets the start on the mound, first pitch set for 6 p.m.
The game will be video streamed through CUSA.tv/RaiderVision and on Facebook LIVE (Blue Raider Athletics Page). Radio coverage provided on 92. 3 FM (WMOT 2). Live tweets are available on Twitter @MT_Baseball.
The Blue Raiders (10-14) found quality pitching for the second game in a row, holding the Bruins (10-13) to five hits in the contest.
"Two well-pitched games in a row, and that's so important from where we've been, and the progression that we are making," said Head Coach Jim McGuire. "The last two games we have really pitched well and hopefully it's trending to go that way, for the rest of the way."
In just his second appearance of the season, Will Small (1-0) was crucial to the Blue Raiders' solid day on the mound, picking up his first win of the season. The senior threw a season-high three scoreless innings, while only allowing two hits, after relieving starter Grant Williams.
Williams impressed in his third start of the season, hurling a career-high 5-2/3 innings. The freshman gave up only one hit through the first four innings. The Hendersonville, Tenn., native found himself in some trouble in the fifth and sixth innings, giving up a total of four runs on five hits.
"I thought Williams was very good, he was dominant at times, throwing anything he wanted at times for a strike," said McGuire. "He is very poised and nothing bothers him, I thought overall he pitched very well."
The Blue Raiders and Bruins were tied 4-4 heading into the eighth inning. Manuel Lopez, who made his first career start, led off the inning with a walk. Kevin Sullivan came in to pinch run for Lopez. Next play, second baseman Ryan Kemp laid down a sacrifice bunt that Belmont's pitcher, Kyle Klotz could not handle. Klotz threw the ball away, advancing the runners to second and third, no outs.
Sophomore Blake Benefield grounded out to the third baseman, scoring Sullivan. The next batter was freshman Aaron Antonini who delivered a single through the right side, scoring Kemp.
"We scored the two runs in the eighth, which was huge, Antonini came up not having a lot of at-bats, but he got up there and got a hit when we needed it to get us to a two run lead." stated McGuire.
The Blue Raiders led 6-4 heading to the ninth where Small put down the first two batters and two-way player Austin Dennis (2), was called in from right field to seal the win. Dennis earned his second save of the year striking out the only batter he faced.
MT jumped on Belmont early, when Kemp stroked a leadoff double down the left field line in the third inning. Benefield followed with a single to right field. Antonini used a sacrifice fly to score Kemp. Senior Brad Jarreau hit another single and advanced to second on the throw.
Dennis roped a two-RBI single to left field scoring Benefield and Jarreau. The Blue Raiders accounted for six hits in the inning and led 3-0 after three frames.
Dennis finished 3-of-5, and was one of four Blue Raiders with multi-hit games. Jarreau went 2-of-5 with a run and RBI, Kemp went 2-of-4 with two runs, while Benefield finished 2-of-4 with a run and RBI.
The Blue Raiders will be back in action tomorrow to take on Austin Peay at Reese Smith Jr. Field. Sophomore AJ Spencer gets the start on the mound, first pitch set for 6 p.m.
The game will be video streamed through CUSA.tv/RaiderVision and on Facebook LIVE (Blue Raider Athletics Page). Radio coverage provided on 92. 3 FM (WMOT 2). Live tweets are available on Twitter @MT_Baseball.
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