Middle Tennesee State University Athletics
Middle Tennessee
19-17-1, 0
Rice
16-21-1, 0
Team Stats
Batting:
2B: Ryan Chandler 1
RBI: Andrew Dunlap 2 ; Justin Collins 1 ; Bradley Gneiting 1
SH: Justin Collins 1
SF: Bradley Gneiting 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Braden Comeaux 1 ; Trei Cruz 2 ; Chace Sarchet 1 ; Dominic Cox 1
CS: Ford Proctor 1
HBP: Chace Sarchet 1
Batting:
2B: Benefield, Blake 1
RBI: Aucker, Aaron 3
Base Running:
RUNS: Dennis, Austin 2 ; Benefield, Blake 1 ; Sullivan, Kevin 2
SB: Dennis, Austin 1 ; Sullivan, Kevin 1
PO: Kemp, Ryan 1
Game Leaders
Players Mentioned
Blue Raiders series against Rice ends in a tie
4/15/2018 5:14:00 PM | Baseball
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – Despite outhitting the Owls, Middle Tennessee drew even in the rubber-match against Rice 5-5 in a back-and-forth game in a chilly Reese Smith Jr. Field.
"It's better than a loss for sure," said head coach Jim McGuire. "We were fortunate to get it tied but unfortunate not to get the win.
"But I'm sure they're thinking the same thing, we both had all kinds of opportunities to win it."
The game was called after nine innings due to the curfew rule that is enforced by Conference USA. There were three ties and four lead changes in the game, while neither team led by more than two runs. Today's game marks the first tie for Middle Tennessee since February 26th, 2008 against Tennessee Tech.
As a team, the Blue Raiders recorded 14 hits, the most in a Conference USA game since the second game of the series against Old Dominion on March 31.
First baseman Aaron Aucker led all Blue Raiders at the plate, going 3-for-5 with three RBIs. Designated hitter Ryan Kemp also recorded three hits, while Kevin Sullivan and Austin Dennis each logged two.
"He's what we call a professional hitter," McGuire added. "I don't know where we would be without him; all three hits today were extremely clutch."
Rice struck first in the second inning, taking a 1-0 lead, but MT battled right back one inning later notching things even.
MT took their first lead of the game in the fifth, going up 3-2 on the Owls. Austin Dennis got the inning started with a leadoff single back up the middle.
Three batters later, Dennis scored after Blake Benefield hit a ball sharply to the shortstop and reached on a throwing error. Benefield reached third on a single from Ryan Kemp and scored on a passed ball from the Owls.
A.J Spencer got the start on the mound for Middle Tennessee, going 3-1/3 innings and only allowing two earned runs on three hits. Spencer also struck out three of his 19 batters faced.
Tyler Holcombe, Conner Bell and Peyton Wigginton were efficient in their relief of Spencer, tossing a combined 2-2/3 scoreless innings while only giving up two hits.
The Blue Raiders padded an additional run in the sixth off an Aaron Aucker single that scored Kevin Sullivan, to take the largest lead of the game.
The Blue Raiders take the field again Tuesday when they face Lipscomb in Reese Smith Jr. Field. First pitch is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. and fans who cannot attend are encouraged to tune in to 101.9/100.5 WGNS to hear the call.
