Middle Tennessee State University Athletics
Middle Tennessee
Belmont
MT Hosts Belmont in Midweek Clash
4/17/2018 1:00:00 PM | Softball
Date: Wednesday, April 18
Teams: Middle Tennessee vs. Belmont
Location: Blue Raider Softball Field – Murfreesboro, Tenn.
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – After playing the last seven games on the road, the Middle Tennessee softball team finally returns home to host a midweek game with Belmont. The game is scheduled for Wednesday, April 18 with a 6pm first pitch from the Blue Raider Softball Field.
The two sides met last week in another midweek clash. Middle came out on top in that game, 7-2. The offense exploded for 10 hits. Claire Smith was 3-for-3 in the contest, scoring three of the seven runs. Kristin Uselton and Kirstyn Cuccia each went 2-for-3 with two RBI. Cori Jennings pitched six shutout innings to earn the complete game victory in the circle.
The win was MT's 26th all-time versus the Bruins. The Raiders are now 26-6 when facing Belmont.
Scouting the Blue Raiders (28-17)
Middle enters the midweek battle on a high following a big come from behind win over conference rival FIU in the series finale last week. Despite losing the series, MT gobbled up one win to keep themselves in the hunt for their first C-USA Tournament berth.
In the win, the Raiders exploded for five-runs in the sixth inning to overtake the Panthers. Uselton and Danielle Munoz hit home runs in the inning to tie the game. Then Brooke McClure stole a base and scored the go-ahead run on an overthrow. Lexi Cushing sealed the win with a single to center to score the fifth run, putting MT on top 5-3.
Cushing's RBI was her 35th of the year. She is now tied for the most RBI in the conference. The sophomore continues to lead MT with 10 doubles and 10 home runs on the year for a .700 slugging percentage.
Morgan Harris has also been an RBI machine this year, with 27. She hit a home run in game two of last weekend's series at FIU to push her batting average up .366 on the season. She also had a good series behind the plate last weekend, picking off a runner on second and catching a runner stealing.
Pattie Ruth Taylor got a win in the circle during last week's midweek games to become 2-0 on the season. She posts a team-low 1.97 ERA in 21.1 inning. Jennings earned her 14th win in the FIU series. The senior has a 2.35 ERA, has struck out 74 on the year and thrown 10 complete games.
Scouting Belmont (22-14)
Since facing the Raiders a week ago, Belmont has gone 1-2. The Bruins got shutout at Ole Miss, 5-0 and then split a doubleheader against Morehead State (3-2, 0-3).
Jess Andree hit a double against MT the last time out. She is hitting .327 on the year with four doubles, a triple and six home runs. The senior shortstop also has 20 RBI and 13 walks this season. Sami Long had the two RBI in the last meeting between the Raiders and the Bruins. She is hitting .206 with two doubles and a home run on the year.
Lexi Rouse remains the biggest threat for Belmont. She leads the squad with a .357 batting average and nine doubles and eight home runs. She also has a team-high 24 RBI and 14 walks. The senior can also pitch, she threw 2.1 innings versus the Raiders last week. She has a 2.80 ERA and 18 strikeouts.
Brooklin Lee is Belmont's number one pitcher in the circle though; the Raiders are yet to face her this season. She has a team-low 1.54 ERA in 136.1 innings. She has struck out 161 on the year and thrown 8 shutouts and 16 complete games for a 12-6 record.
