Middle Tennesee State University Athletics
Raiders Offense Finding Its Stride at the Perfect Time
4/18/2017 9:40:00 AM | Baseball
MT has already scored more runs this season, than all of last season
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – Middle Tennessee is in the midst of an offensive streak that hasn't been seen in Murfreesboro for more than a decade, and it's come at the perfect time.
With the Blue Raiders' (19-17, 7-8) 13-3 win in eight innings over UAB on Saturday, MT won its fifth-straight contest, scoring in double figures in all of them. It's the first time since 2002 the Raiders have scored 10 or more runs in five-straight games.
The 13 runs also gave Middle Tennessee 244 for the season in just its 36th game, besting last year's mark of 238 for the entire year (55 games).
The offensive production, especially over the past five games, isn't necessarily something head coach Jim McGuire saw coming from his team.
"Did I think we were going to be better offensively than last year? Yes. But, at this point to be where we're at, I'm a little surprised with the amount of progress we've made so fast," he said.
The high-octane offense from the last five games is the culmination of a lot of different factors, perhaps none of which is more important than getting guys back into the lineup.
Redshirt junior Aaron Aucker, junior Ryan Kemp and senior Brad Jarreau own the Blue Raiders' top three batting averages, respectively, and each has missed at least 13 games this season. But, all three are back in the lineup and are providing immediate returns.
"I think that's the biggest factor, I really do," McGuire said. "Confidence is always a big factor as far as hitting goes, and hitting can be contagious … but, the injury part of it was big. All three of them being healthy and being in the lineup has really made it solid."
Aucker has proven to be the team's best statistical hitter. He leads MT with a .383 batting average, six home runs, a .728 slugging percentage and two triples. The infielder has also belted four homers with nine RBIs and a .461 average in seven games since returning the lineup, hitting safely in each contest.
The ability to hit the long ball this year is relatively new to Aucker. He had just one last season in 39 games played.
"I didn't really hit many home runs through high school or anything," he said. "Coach McGuire and Coach [Tim] Donnelly have worked with me to fine-tune my swing, and it's really helped a lot."
Donnelly, a former Marshall assistant who was named Conference USA's assistant coach of the year in 2016, is in his first season as hitting coach and recruiting coordinator for the Blue Raiders, and his impact has been felt by more than just Aucker.
Behind its new hitting coach, MT ranks second in the league in C-USA games in batting average (.324), runs (118), hits (180) and slugging percentage (.476), and it's tied for fourth with 15 home runs.
The players have taken to Donnelly's coaching because, according to Aucker, he's gotten them to really focus during batting practice. He also gives them confidence while they're at the plate even if they're in the middle of a slump.
"A big thing he preaches in our BP rounds is if you want to hit home runs and doubles, you have to do it in BP," Aucker said. "If you're going well, he doesn't really do much. He lets you figure things out for yourself as long as there isn't a glaring issue. He's more about the process, not the results."
The Blue Raiders will have to continue their hot hitting into the next few weeks, which could prove to be one of the toughest parts of their schedule.
After taking on 27th-ranked Vanderbilt at home on Tuesday, MT travels to C-USA fourth-seeded Charlotte this weekend for a three-game series then to Tennessee Tech on April 25. It then is back home for a three-game series with C-USA's frontrunner, 16th-ranked Southern Miss, to close out the month.
In order for Middle Tennessee to stay hot at the plate, McGuire said his guys will have to keep making pitchers pay for mistakes, something they weren't doing well earlier in the season. They also have to keep providing timely hits that put them in position to keep scoring runs.
"To hit for a high average is one thing, but driving in runs when it counts is the other part of it," he said. "We've been taking advantage when we get those opportunities."
Their near-historic pace from the last five games may not last forever, but as long as the Blue Raiders can stay healthy and keep putting solid at-bats together, their strong offense should continue. If anything, opposing C-USA pitchers should take notice.
With the Blue Raiders' (19-17, 7-8) 13-3 win in eight innings over UAB on Saturday, MT won its fifth-straight contest, scoring in double figures in all of them. It's the first time since 2002 the Raiders have scored 10 or more runs in five-straight games.
The 13 runs also gave Middle Tennessee 244 for the season in just its 36th game, besting last year's mark of 238 for the entire year (55 games).
The offensive production, especially over the past five games, isn't necessarily something head coach Jim McGuire saw coming from his team.
"Did I think we were going to be better offensively than last year? Yes. But, at this point to be where we're at, I'm a little surprised with the amount of progress we've made so fast," he said.
The high-octane offense from the last five games is the culmination of a lot of different factors, perhaps none of which is more important than getting guys back into the lineup.
Redshirt junior Aaron Aucker, junior Ryan Kemp and senior Brad Jarreau own the Blue Raiders' top three batting averages, respectively, and each has missed at least 13 games this season. But, all three are back in the lineup and are providing immediate returns.
"I think that's the biggest factor, I really do," McGuire said. "Confidence is always a big factor as far as hitting goes, and hitting can be contagious … but, the injury part of it was big. All three of them being healthy and being in the lineup has really made it solid."
Aucker has proven to be the team's best statistical hitter. He leads MT with a .383 batting average, six home runs, a .728 slugging percentage and two triples. The infielder has also belted four homers with nine RBIs and a .461 average in seven games since returning the lineup, hitting safely in each contest.
The ability to hit the long ball this year is relatively new to Aucker. He had just one last season in 39 games played.
"I didn't really hit many home runs through high school or anything," he said. "Coach McGuire and Coach [Tim] Donnelly have worked with me to fine-tune my swing, and it's really helped a lot."
Donnelly, a former Marshall assistant who was named Conference USA's assistant coach of the year in 2016, is in his first season as hitting coach and recruiting coordinator for the Blue Raiders, and his impact has been felt by more than just Aucker.
Behind its new hitting coach, MT ranks second in the league in C-USA games in batting average (.324), runs (118), hits (180) and slugging percentage (.476), and it's tied for fourth with 15 home runs.
The players have taken to Donnelly's coaching because, according to Aucker, he's gotten them to really focus during batting practice. He also gives them confidence while they're at the plate even if they're in the middle of a slump.
"A big thing he preaches in our BP rounds is if you want to hit home runs and doubles, you have to do it in BP," Aucker said. "If you're going well, he doesn't really do much. He lets you figure things out for yourself as long as there isn't a glaring issue. He's more about the process, not the results."
The Blue Raiders will have to continue their hot hitting into the next few weeks, which could prove to be one of the toughest parts of their schedule.
After taking on 27th-ranked Vanderbilt at home on Tuesday, MT travels to C-USA fourth-seeded Charlotte this weekend for a three-game series then to Tennessee Tech on April 25. It then is back home for a three-game series with C-USA's frontrunner, 16th-ranked Southern Miss, to close out the month.
In order for Middle Tennessee to stay hot at the plate, McGuire said his guys will have to keep making pitchers pay for mistakes, something they weren't doing well earlier in the season. They also have to keep providing timely hits that put them in position to keep scoring runs.
"To hit for a high average is one thing, but driving in runs when it counts is the other part of it," he said. "We've been taking advantage when we get those opportunities."
Their near-historic pace from the last five games may not last forever, but as long as the Blue Raiders can stay healthy and keep putting solid at-bats together, their strong offense should continue. If anything, opposing C-USA pitchers should take notice.
Players Mentioned
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