Blue Raiders begin Eight-game Home stand with ODU Friday

Friday, April 7

Murfreesboro, Tenn.

6 PM

Middle Tennessee

(RV) Old Dominion

Tickets

4/6/2017 5:09:00 PM | Baseball

First Pitch Friday Set for 6 p.m. at Reese Smith Jr. Field

By: Zach Rhodes, Middle Tennessee Athletic Communications

GAME INFORMATION

Hashtag: #BlueRaiders
Twitter: @MT_Baseball (Live Tweets)
Instagram: MT_Baseball
Facebook: MTSU Blue Raider Baseball

Date: Fri-Sun April 7th-9th
Time: 6 p.m. (Fri.), 4 p.m. (Sat.), 12 p.m. (Sun.)
Teams: Middle Tennessee (11-14, 3-6 C-USA) vs. (RV) Old Dominion (22-8, 7-2 C-USA)
Location: Murfreesboro, Tenn.
Stadium: Reese Smith Jr. Field (2,100)
Radio: Fri. - 92.3 WMOT 2 (Dick Palmer, PxP), (Steve Peterson, Color)
Sat. & Sun. – 89.5 FM
Promotions: Fri: Bingo Friday; Sat: Salute Saturday, Sun: Kid's Day

Live Audio/Video

*RV = Receiving Votes in the National Polls

Projected Starting Pitchers:
Fri: LHP Jake Wyrick
Sat: RHP AJ Spencer
Sun: LHP Cody Puckett

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – The Blue Raiders look to carry momentum from defeating Tennessee Tuesday night and winning five of their last six coming into this weekend's tough Conference USA series against (RV) Old Dominion.

Friday will only be the 13^th meeting between the two programs. The Blue Raiders lead the overall series 8-4, with the Monarchs getting the better of MT in 2016, winning the three-game series in Norfolk, Va.

The Blue Raiders have been a different team since senior center fielder Brad Jarreau returned to the lineup after sitting out 18 games due to a broken hand. MT is 6-3 since Jarreau returned for the WKU series in March. Since being re-inserted to the Blue Raider lineup, Jarreau is hitting .314, including his second career triple at Tennessee Tuesday night, plating three runs, putting Middle Tennessee up 4-1 early.

Another key to the recent Blue Raider success, is the emergence of the bullpen. MT is using positional players such as, outfielder Austin Dennis and third baseman Drew Huff, in key late-game situations on the mound. The two, who pitched in high school, have a combined, 2-0 record, four saves, 1.50 ERA, and 19 strikeouts in 12 innings of work.

Will Small also turned a lot of heads with his relief efforts this season. In four appearances, the senior has yet to give up a run in 9-2/3 innings. The Atlanta, Ga., native sported a 6.27 ERA coming into the year.

LHP Jake Wyrick will get the nod Friday night. The southpaw has struggled in his three C-USA starts and looks to get back on track against a strong ODU team. Wyrick sported an impressive sub-2.00 ERA for most of the non-conference season. The junior currently ranks 6th in C-USA in strikeouts with 46.

Sophomore AJ Spencer will get his first weekend start of the season Saturday. Spencer is coming off his best outing of the year against Austin Peay Mar. 29 throwing five scoreless innings, and only allowing two hits to a powerful Governors offense.

LHP Cody Puckett will get the start again for the third straight Sunday. Puckett has been solid on the mound, posting a 2.77 ERA in his two starts this year, while striking out 17 batters. The senior currently holds the third-best ERA on the Blue Raider staff, best amongst starters.

Middle Tennessee will get two key pieces back this weekend when Aaron Aucker and reliever Reid Clements make their returns. Both sustained injuries in the FAU series in three weeks ago.

The Monarchs come into the weekend series dropping two straight mid-week matchups after winning the series at home against Charlotte. ODU fell Tuesday at #18 Virginia 18-6 and at VMI 17-14 Wednesday. The Monarchs shut out Charlotte, 2-0 Saturday and 3-0 Sunday.

Their starting rotation will be tough for the Blue Raiders to handle with RHP Sam Sinnen (3.63 ERA) going Friday, LHP Adam Bainbridge (1.31 ERA) going Saturday, coming off a complete game shutout against Charlotte last Saturday, and LHP John Wilson (2.97 ERA) finishing out the weekend Sunday.

The ODU lineup is no slouch either, with five of their batters hitting .294 or better. The Monarchs currently rank second in the conference with a 22-8 overall record, 7-2 in C-USA.

First pitch is set for Friday night at 6 p.m.

An audio and video broadcast will be available on CUSA.TV/RaiderVision and on the radio (92.3 FM WMOT 2 Friday; 89.5 FM Saturday and Sunday). Follow LIVE tweets on Twitter (@MT_Baseball).