Middle Tennesee State University Athletics
Middle Tennessee
11-8, 2-0
WKU
9-10, 0-2
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Bell, Conner (1-0)
L: Colby Taylor (2-1)
S: Dennis, Austin (2)
Batting:
2B: Dennis, Austin 1 ; Kemp, Ryan 1
3B: Dennis, Austin 1
RBI: Dennis, Austin 1 ; Kemp, Ryan 2 ; Christian, Myles 2 ; Thomas, Brycen 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Woodard, LA 2 ; Dennis, Austin 1 ; Kemp, Ryan 1 ; Aucker, Aaron 1 ; Christian, Myles 3
SB: Woodard, LA 1
Batting:
2B: Steven Kraft 1 ; Colin Butkiewicz 1
3B: Colie Currie 1
RBI: Steven Kraft 3 ; Colie Currie 3 ; Kevin Lambert 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Ray Zuberer III 1 ; Jacob Rhinesmith 1 ; Steven Kraft 1 ; Luke Brown 1 ; Colin Butkiewicz 2 ; Kevin Lambert 1
SB: Jacob Rhinesmith 1 ; Steven Kraft 1 ; Colie Currie 1
CS: Chase Larsen 1
HBP: Colie Currie 1 ; Luke Brown 1
Game Leaders
Players Mentioned
Blue Raiders hold on to beat WKU
3/17/2018 6:50:00 PM | Baseball
BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – The Blue Raiders were able to hang on late as Middle Tennessee (11-8, 2-0) defeated Western Kentucky (9-10, 0-2) 8-7 to take game two of the three game series.
"It's really big to score first." said Head Coach Jim McGuire. "We were able to add on more runs against really good pitchers."
This marks the third game in a row that the Blue Raiders have scored in the first frame, all of which resulted in wins.
The Blue Raiders got the scoring going early when Ryan Kemp doubled down the right field line to score LA Woodard in the first inning. Myles Christian would drive in two and score himself when a single up the middle was muffed by the center fielder.
Western Kentucky made it a one run game in the bottom of the 4th inning with a bases loaded triple that scored three runs.
The Blue Raiders would tack on a run in the 2nd, 5th, 6th, and 8th innings.
After the blue and white regained a four run lead in the 8th inning, Western Kentucky pulled within one run after a bases loaded double down the right field line scored three runs for the Hilltoppers.
Austin Dennis came in with two outs in the 8th to get the Blue Raiders out of the inning with the lead intact.
Dennis would also come out in the 9th and coax a groundball double play to complete the save.
Carson Lester got the start for the Blue Raiders. Carson pitched 4 innings, giving up 7 hits.
Carson Bell relieved Lester in the 5th. He threw two innings, giving up just one hit and picking up the win.
Andy Wright and Blake Stansberry also saw action out of the Blue Raiders bullpen.
In his pinch hit appearance, Brycen Thomas delivered a one out RBI single to left field in the 8th, driving in Christian from third base.
This marks the first road series win at Western Kentucky since the 2005 season, which saw the Blue Raiders take two out of three games that year.
The Blue Raiders look to complete the series sweep tomorrow afternoon at 1 p.m. Peyton Wigginton (1-2) will take the mound for Middle Tennessee.
