Middle Tennesee State University Athletics
Middle Tennessee
18-15
Belmont
13-19
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Bell, Conner (2-0)
L: MATTER, Michael (0-1)
Batting:
2B: Aucker, Aaron 1 ; Sullivan, Kevin 1
HR: Aucker, Aaron 1
RBI: Dennis, Austin 2 ; Aucker, Aaron 3 ; Benefield, Blake 1 ; Lopez, Manuel 1 ; Sullivan, Kevin 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Dennis, Austin 3 ; Aucker, Aaron 3 ; Antonini, Aaron 1 ; Sullivan, Kevin 2
SB: Dennis, Austin 2 ; Christian, Myles 1
HBP: Antonini, Aaron 1
Game Leaders
Players Mentioned
Blue Raiders get the season sweep over Belmont
4/10/2018 9:44:00 PM | Baseball
MURFREESBORO, Tenn – Middle Tennessee bounced back from the first season sweep to trounce Belmont 9-0 in Reese Smith Jr. Field.
"Really proud of the way we came out today," said head coach Jim McGuire. "We just played well in all three phases of the game . . . we probably played as good of a defensive game as we've played in a long time."
The win capped off a season sweep of the Bruins, where MT outscored Belmont 33-4 between the two games. The shutout marks the third of the season for the Blue Raiders, the most since 2014 when MT had five shutout victories.
"To throw a shutout in the middle of the week is big for us," McGuire added.
After the bats started slow in the first two innings, the Blue Raiders broke through in the third. Kevin Sullivan ripped a leadoff double to start the frame and two batters later Austin Dennis singled to right field and scored him.
MT got two more runs on a wild pitch and a fielders to cap off the inning. Dennis pushed Sullivan through again in the fourth inning on a bunt for a base hit, and MT padded three more runs in the fourth to take control 6-0.
Dennis finished the day 4-for-5 with three runs scored and two RBIs; he also finished the game on the mound, throwing a scoreless ninth inning.
"He's got a lot of confidence up there, he's locked in and seeing it well," said McGuire.
Aaron Aucker also had a strong day at the plate, hitting a two-run home run in the eighth on the way to going 3-for-5 with three RBIs and finished only a triple shy of the cycle.
Designated hitter Manuel Lopez also contributed multiple hits, going 2-for-5 with an RBI.
Freshman RHP Zach Keenan got the start on the mound for the Blue Raiders, but only lasted two shutout innings, giving up two hits, one walk and striking out two. Conner Bell also threw two scoreless innings in relief, retiring six straight batters without allowing a base runner.
Fellow freshman pitcher Brycen Thomas made his first mound appearance of the season for the Blue Raiders, throwing a perfect inning of relief. The Spring Hill, Tenn. native underwent Tommy John Surgery in the offseason to repair his elbow.
The Blue Raiders hope to keep momentum going as they travel to Cookeville to face Tennessee Tech. First pitch is scheduled for 6:00 p.m.
