Blue Raiders drop series finale at ODU

Sunday, April 1

Norfolk, VA

11 AM

Middle Tennessee

16-12, 5-4

Old Dominion

10-16, 3-6

Middle Tennessee

Old Dominion

4/1/2018 2:55:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

MT still takes second road series of season

By: @MTAthletics

NORFOLK, Va. – Middle Tennessee missed out on an opportunity for the series sweep against Old Dominion with an 8-7 setback in the finale here Sunday afternoon, but still secured its second series road win in as many tries.

The game was tied 7-7 with two outs in the bottom of the ninth when Kyle Battle lifted a ball to center field that was misplayed into an inside-the-park home run for the decisive win. Had the Blue Raiders (16-12, 5-4) secured the final out the game would have ended in a tie as the C-USA curfew for teams traveling by plane was in effect.

"The ball was just misplayed in center and it gave them time to circle the bases and win the game," Middle Tennessee Head Coach Jim McGuire said. "Had we made the play the game would have ended in a tie, which would have not hurt us. We have won two road series, which I am really proud about, but this is one I felt we could have won."

Austin Dennis and Drew Huff accounted for half of Middle Tennessee's 12 hits. Both players were 3-for-5 in the series finale. Dennis was 3-for-5 with a home run and two runs scored, while Huff was 3-for-5 with a RBI double.

Aaron Aucker continued his torrid pace with a 2-for-5 effort that included a double, two RBI and two runs scored. Aaron Antonin was 2-for-2 with a RBI double.

Dennis was also in full control on the mound, pitching two innings of one-hit baseball and striking out two to before the crazy ending. AJ Spencer also provided solid relief pitching with three innings of two-hit shutout baseball.

The Blue Raiders jumped out to a 4-0 lead after two innings, but Old Dominion erased the deficit with a five-run third and eventually led 7-5 after five innings.

Middle Tennessee tied the game 7-7 with two runs in the sixth, highlighted by Dennis' solo blast. The Blue Raiders had plenty of opportunities to regain the lead but couldn't capitalize after getting the leadoff batter aboard in the eighth and ninth innings. They stranded 10 runners.

The Blue Raiders will return to action when they play host to Vanderbilt Tuesday at 6 p.m.