MT Tops UC Riverside to Close Out California Weekend

Sunday, February 11

Los Angeles, Calif.

11 AM

Middle Tennessee

1-4

Maryland

1-4

Maryland

Middle Tennessee

2/11/2018 4:18:00 PM | Softball

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LOS ANGELES, Calif. – The Middle Tennessee softball team returned to UCLA to wrap up the Stacy Winsberg Memorial Tournament on Sunday, Feb. 11. The Blue Raiders fell to Maryland, 2-1 and then bested UC Riverside, 2-1.

Middle had another comeback win, after the Highlanders tied the game in the fifth inning. Summer Burgess had the clutch bat, connecting on an RBI single to score Claire Smith, the game winning run.

Middle is now 2-4 on the year after a challenging first weekend of the 2018 schedule.

Game One: Maryland 2, Middle Tennessee 1

The Blue Raiders struck first against Maryland, facing the Terps for the first time in program history. MT got on the board in the bottom of the first as Precious Birdsong was walked. She moved around the base path on a stolen base and a hit from Jocelynn De La Cruz. Birdsong then scored on a sacrifice fly off the bat of freshman Ryan King.

In the top of the fourth, Maryland threatened working the bases loaded with two singles and walk. Gretchen Greer came up huge in the circle with a strikeout to end the inning and keep the Terrapins off the board.

In the fifth, Kassidy Cross tied the game up for Maryland. She hit a solo home run over the fence in right center field.

In the sixth, Maryland took a one-run lead as Anna Kufta came around to score on a double to left center field.

King and Burgess both got hits in the sixth and sevenths innings as MT tried to stage a comeback but the Raiders were unable to move them around for the comeback, falling the Terrapins 2-1.

Game Two: Middle Tennessee 2, UC Riverside 1

In another first meeting, MT jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the second inning thanks to the bat of Lexi Cushing. Morgan Harris reached base on a single up the middle and then came all the way around to score on a double to the fence in right center from Cushing.

The Highlanders loaded the bases with one out in the bottom half of the fourth inning following two singles and a walk. Starting pitcher, Cori Jennings worked her way out of the jam, earning her third strikeout of the game. Then Burgess made a nap diving nap at short and tossed it to Kristin Uselton at third to keep UC Riverside scoreless.

The next inning, UC Riverside got two quick singles with one out and tied the game, 1-1, on another single off the bat of Brittney Garcia. Then with two outs and a runner on second, the Highlanders went for the steal at third but Harris threw her out for the final out of the inning.

Middle kept the Highlands at bay again in the sixth with a double play. Smith fielded the ball and tossed it to Burgess on second base who fired it Cushing at first to keep the game tied.

In the top of the seventh, the Blue Raiders took back the lead. Smith got a leadoff single to shallow center. She moved to second on a sacrifice bunt from Kirstyn Cuccia and came around to score as Burgess lifted a single to left field.

The Highlanders got a few base runners on a single and a walk in the bottom of the seventh but the Raiders secure their second win of the season, getting all three outs.

Up Next

The Blue Raiders return to action next Friday, February 16 in Montgomery Ala. MT will participate in the Black & Gold Tournament hosted by Alabama State. Middle is set to face Holy Cross, Fort Wayne, Akron, UT Martin, and Nicholls State.