Middle Tennessee State University Athletics
Middle Tennessee
Florida International
Softball Hosts Key Series with FIU
5/2/2003 5:41:00 PM | Softball
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - The last four games in the Sun Belt for the Middle Tennessee softball is turning out to be an interesting set of events, as the Lady Raiders host Florida International Saturday and Sunday.
If Middle Tennessee can put together a four-game sweep of Florida International this weekend, the Lady Raiders can clinch second place in the conference, but if they stumble they will fall to third. Either way, the two teams will meet each other in the Sun Belt Tournament on May 8 at 1:30 p.m. in Bowling Green, KY.
Preservation is the key, as the Lady Raiders will try to extend their four game winning streak, and pitcher Stayc Preator will try to continue her streak of scoreless innings. In the match-up, Preator has the best record of the two squad's pitchers and her ERA of 1.64 bests FIU ace Amanda Nealor who has a 1.74 ERA.
As a team FIU is hitting .270 and MT is at .294. Leading hitter Jennifer Owens is at .380 in batting average and Lady Raider second baseman Cortney Mitchell leads with .409. It is an alumni weekend to celebrate the Lady Raiders 10 year anniversary and it is also senior weekend. Overall, the Lady Raiders are 5-6 against FIU. In the regular season in 2002, Middle Tennessee went 1-3 against the Panthers and defeated them 1-0 in the semi-finals of the Sun Belt Conference Tournament.
Doubleheader action begins Saturday at noon, with members of the 1993 Lady Raider softball team throwing out the first pitch. All Middle Tennessee softball alum will be recognized between games one and two.
