Middle Tennessee State University Athletics
Middle Tennessee
Tennessee State
Davis Hits First Homerun as Blue Raider in Split With TSU
3/29/2006 8:00:00 PM | Softball
It was Tennessee State jumping on the board first in the opening game of the doubleheader. Leena Worrell hit a lead-off homerun to give the Tigers a 1-0 lead and the club added a second run when Erin Finneran hit an RBI double that scored Diana Clifford.
Shelby Stiner led off the Blue Raider second with a single and then stole her eighth base of the season to move into scoring position. Stiner scored on an error by TSU which allowed Justine Cerda to reach first on a fielder's choice. Martha Davis hit the first homerun of her Blue Raider career that also scored Cerda and gave Middle Tennessee the 3-2 lead.
Samantha Floyd started the game for the Blue Raiders and was replaced by Ashley Katinas in the third inning. Katinas gave up the tying run to the Tigers when Emily Samana hit an RBI single which scored Nira Robbins.
Floyd led off the third inning for Middle Tennessee with a single and moved to second when Muriel Ledbetter hit a single. Floyd stole third which allowed Ledbetter to move to second and Floyd scored when a Tiger miscue placed Brandi Boehner on first and moved Ledbetter to third. Ledbetter scored on a wild pitch by TSU's Lauren Weber and then on the next play Boehner stole second. Boehner scored off the second Tiger error of the inning.
Middle Tennessee added three more runs in the fourth inning. Kristine Reed led off the inning by beating out a bunt and advanced to second on a ground out by Katie Mielke. Reed stole third and scored on a Tennessee State error. Floyd drew a walk and then scored when Melissa Weiland hit her third homerun of the season.
Tennessee State added two runs in the fifth inning.
Middle Tennessee posted four runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to force the mercy rule. Back-to-back walks by Ledbetter and Stiner led off the inning and a single by Boehner loaded the bases. Cerda hit a two RBI single that scored Ledbetter and Stiner. Reed hit a grounder that scored Boehner and then Cerda scored when Mielke hit her sixth double of the season.
Katinas takes the win in the game and improves to 2-4 on the season. She went 2.2 innings allowing three runs on four hits and striking out one. White closed out the game going 1.1 innings allowing one hit and striking out two.
Trailing 4-2 in the bottom of the seventh inning of the second game, Middle Tennessee attempted a comeback that began with Reed who hit a double to lead off the inning. Reed then proceeded to advance to third on a Tiger error. A sacrifice fly to left field by Mielke scored Reed and pulled the Blue Raiders within one run. Floyd lined to the first baseman for the second out of the inning, which left Stiner to continue the inning. Stiner delivered with a single to right field and it looked like Middle Tennessee was in business with the hot bat of Ledbetter coming to the plate. Ledbetter took her shot as she hit a screamer down the first base side but it landed in the glove of the TSU first baseman for the third out of the inning.
Tennessee State posted four runs in the top of the third inning in the second game and it proved all the Tigers would need. With two outs, Robbins doubled to right field and moved to third on a Blue Raider error that placed Melanie Cruz to first base. Robbins scored off an RBI single by Candace Hildebrand. Worrell hit a three run homerun over the left centerfield wall to give the Tigers a 4-0 lead.
Cerda hit a two out double to start a scoring rally for the Blue Raiders in the fourth inning. Cerda scored off an RBI single by Boehner who moved all the way to third during the play. Boehner scored off an RBI single by Davis to pull Middle Tennessee within two runs.
White takes the loss and falls to 2-9 on the season. She went five innings allowing seven hits, however none of the runs scored by TSU were earned. Floyd came in to close out the game allowing just one Tiger hit and recorded one strikeout.
Middle Tennessee returns to action on Wednesday April 5 when the Blue Raiders travel to Carbondale, Illinois to take on Southern Illinois. First pitch in the doubleheader is set for 4 p.m.
NOTES:
Middle Tennessee scored a season-high 13 runs in the first game against Tennessee State and also recorded a season-best eight RBI ... Freshman Martha Davis hit the first homerun and first double of her Blue Raider career against TSU ... Middle Tennessee exceeded its win total from last season and now stands at nine wins on the year ... The Blue Raiders had two players hit above .400 in their four games this week in Shelby Stiner and Justine Cerda ... Stiner hit .417 with five hits, two runs scored and also recorded her second triple of the season ... Cerda hit .400 with four hits, four runs scored, one double and two RBI ... The Blue Raiders are on pace to crush their extra base hitting from last season ... In 2005, Middle Tennessee hit just 54 doubles, two triples and 10 homeruns in 51 games ... In 2006, after 31 games, the Blue Raiders have 48 doubles, three triples and 18 homeruns ... With the games against No. 22 Mississippi State on Tuesday, Middle Tennessee has now played five teams this season in the top 25.
