Middle Tennesee State University Athletics
Middle Tennessee
24-31, 10-20
(RV) LA Tech
36-18, 17-13
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Huff, Drew (2-0)
L: Graham Ahlrich (4-2)
Batting:
2B: Raphael Gladu 1
3B: Brent Diaz 1 ; Dalton Skelton 1
HR: Jordan Washam 1
RBI: Jordan Washam 3 ; Dalton Skelton 4 ; Colby Hamilton 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Raphael Gladu 1 ; Jordan Washam 1 ; Chase Lunceford 1 ; Sean Ullrich 1 ; Jonathan Washam 2 ; Dalton Skelton 1 ; Colby Hamilton 1
SB: Dalton Skelton 2
CS: Jordan Washam 1
HBP: Chase Lunceford 1
Batting:
2B: Dennis, Austin 1 ; King, Kaleb 2 ; Benefield, Blake 1
3B: King, Kaleb 1
HR: Jarreau, Brad 1 ; Kemp, Ryan 1
RBI: Delgado, Riley 1 ; Jarreau, Brad 2 ; Kemp, Ryan 2 ; Dennis, Austin 1 ; King, Kaleb 1 ; Benefield, Blake 1 ; Vesser, Chaz 1
SF: Dennis, Austin 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Delgado, Riley 1 ; Jarreau, Brad 1 ; Kemp, Ryan 1 ; Dennis, Austin 1 ; King, Kaleb 1 ; Huff, Drew 2 ; Vesser, Chaz 2
HBP: Kemp, Ryan 1
Game Leaders
Players Mentioned
Raiders rally to clinch series win vs. LA Tech
5/20/2017 5:03:00 PM | Baseball
MT claims 9-8 triumph
The Blue Raiders (24-31, 10-20) won the rubber game of the series when Blake Benefield's one-out double into left centerfield scored Drew Huff from first to give Middle Tennessee its second run of the inning to complete the riveting rally.
Middle Tennessee trailed 8-6 entering its final at-bat, but Austin Dennis ignited the uprising with a leadoff double into left field. Dennis scored on senior Kaleb King's double to pull the Blue Raiders to within 8-7. King moved to third on a throwing error but was gunned out at home on Huff's fielder's choice. Benefield followed with the game-winner when he belted a double into the left center gap for his first hit of the game.
The comeback made a winner of Huff (2-0), who pitched a perfect top of the ninth in relief.
"I'm proud of the effort today and the fight our guys showed in coming back to win the series against a very good Louisiana Tech team," Middle Tennessee Head Coach Jim McGuire said. "We had some key hits and big performances so it's a positive way to end the season and send the seniors out with a win, and a series win.
"I would also like to commend our seniors. I appreciate their contributions to Blue Raider baseball and wish them great success in their future endeavors."
King capped his Blue Raider career in resounding fashion, going 3-for-5 with a double, triple, one RBI and one run scored. Senior catcher Chaz Vesser also went out in style with a 3-for-3 performance that included two runs and one RBI. King and Vesser were two of six hitters in the lineup with multi-hit performances. Four of those were seniors: King, Vesser, Riley Delgado and Brad Jarreau.
Delgado was 2-for-5 with one run and one RBI; Jarreau wa 2-for-2 with a home run, two RBI and one run scored. Huff, a sophomore, also had a multi-hit game with a 2-for-4 effort that included two runs scored – none bigger than his second that proved to be the game winner.
Ryan Kemp finished 1-for-3 with a home run, two RBI and one run scored.
Senior starting pitcher Cody Puckett also had a strong outing. Puckett went five innings, scattered four hits and struck out nine in a no decision.
Middle Tennessee led 4-2 going into the top of the sixth inning but the Bulldogs (36-18, 17-13) erupted for a six-run inning to take a 8-4 advantage. The Blue Raiders rebounded with three in the eighth, highlighted by King's double and singles by Vesser and Delgado.
