Raiders Drop Two to LA Tech

Saturday, March 10

Murfreesboro, Tenn.

2 PM

Middle Tennessee

16-7, 0

Louisiana Tech

11-12, 0

Louisiana Tech

Middle Tennessee

3/10/2018 8:31:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2 Box Score Game 1 Play-by-Play Game 1 Box Score Game 2 Play-by-Play Game 2 Season Stats

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – The Middle Tennessee softball team opened its conference slate on Saturday afternoon falling in a doubleheader to Louisiana Tech. The Lady Techsters topped MT 2-1 and 7-1.

Middle falls to 16-8, 0-2 while LA Tech rises to 12-12, 2-0. With the two wins, the Lady Techsters also win the conference series.

The Blue Raider highlight of the two games was a monstrous home run off the bat of Lexi Cushing. Her fifth of the year was a no-doubter over the scoreboard in left center field, the lone MT run of game one.

Game One: LA Tech 2, MT 1

The opening game of the series was a low-scoring pitcher's duel. However, it was not without chances for both sides.

The Blue Raiders ad their first chance in the bottom of the first. Precious Birdsong sent a single through the left side. Then Jocelynn De La Cruz followed with a well-placed bloop single just behind third base. Birdsong used her speed to get to third on the play. MT was halted though on two straight pop flys to the outfield.

The Lady Techsters had a chance of their own in the top of the fourth. Tech got two aboard on a walk and an infield single to third base. The two commenced the double steal to both move into scoring position. Then, the Lady Techsters sent a ball to Summer Burgess at short, who fired it to Morgan Harris at home, as the runner on third was heading home. Harris stood her ground at the plate to get the out despite a hard run in from the Lady Techster, Morgan Turkoly. Burgess caught a line drive at short to put the inning to rest in the next at bat.

The next half inning was when Cushing's big home run put the Blue Raiders out in front, 1-0.

MT held onto that 1-0 lead until the top of the sixth inning. Tech got two walks right out of the gate and then Taria Page sent a single up the middle to tie the game up 1-1. The next Lady Techster also got a hit but Birdsong made a strong throw from center to Harris behind the plate to get an out and save a run from scoring. Into pitch, Cori Jennings worked the Raiders out of the jam with a strikeout and a ground out to Cushing at first.

The Lady Techsters were able to break the tie and take their first lead of the game in the top of the seventh. After loading the bases on a leadoff double and two walks, Katie Smith hit a ball to short that the Lady Techster on third beat out to score.

Down by one, Burgess got a hit in the bottom half of the inning but it was all that MT could muster.

Jennings took the loss in the circle to move to 7-4 on the year, after Amber Baldwin started and threw five shutout innings. The pair each struck out a batter in the game.

Despite the loss in game one, MT outhit the Lady Techsters 9-6.

Game Two: LA Tech 7, MT 1

Louisiana Tech wasted no time jumping out to a quick 3-0 lead on the Raiders in game two. After a leadoff hit followed by a walk, Page hit a three-run homer over the wall in centerfield.

Up by three, the Lady Techsters quickly added three more in the third frame. With two aboard on a fielder's choice and a walk, Kimmie Atienza hit a bases clearing triple to right center field. She ended up scoring on a wild pitch.

The Blue Raiders were able to gain momentum in the fifth inning. Burgess got aboard on a fielder's choice and after Birdsong walked, Harris sent a long single to right centerfield that cut LA Tech's lead to 6-1.

The Lady Techsters got the run back however in the bottom half of the frame on back-to-back doubles.

MT looked to be building up a rally again in the sixth as Claire Smith was walked and Brooke McClure secured her first hit of the season but MT was unable to come up with any runs in the inning. The Raiders were also put to rest in the seventh as LA Tech secured their second win of the day, 7-1.

Gretchen Greer got the loss in the circle, to fall to 3-2 on the season. She struck out two while Pattie Ruth Taylor struck out one in relief. Sarah Pinkston also saw time in the circle, pitching 1.2 innings and not allowing a run.

Up Next

Despite the series having been decided, the two sides will return to the Blue Raider Softball Field for the third game tomorrow, Sunday, March 11. The finale is set to get underway at 11 a.m., one hour earlier than previously scheduled.