Middle Tennessee State University Athletics
Middle Tennessee
Wright State
Blue Raiders Split First Day at Buzz Classic
3/2/2007 7:48:00 PM | Softball
WOODSTOCK, Ga. - Middle Tennessee softball (7-10) split the first day of action at the Georgia Tech Buzz Classic, defeating Wright State 9-0 and falling to Winthrop 3-1, in the nightcap, Friday at Twin Creek Softball Complex.
The Blue Raiders played their first extra inning game of the season against Winthrop. Tied at one after seven innings, the two clubs went to the international tiebreaker rule to decide the game. With a runner placed on second, Winthrop took advantage of a Middle Tennessee error to place runners at first and third. The Eagles scored two runs with two outs to take the game, 3-1.
Junior Ashley Cline was placed at second in the bottom of the eighth inning, and though she moved to third off a miscue by Winthrop, she was stranded thanks to three Blue Raider players striking out to end the game.
Sophomore pitcher Samantha Floyd got the start in the game, but left with a no decision with the contest tied at one. Freshman Lindsey Vander Lugt came into the game in relief and took the loss, falling to 4-7 on the season. Whitney Darlington scored the lone run for the Blue Raiders. The loss snapped a four-game winning streak for the team.
Middle Tennessee opened the Buzz Classic with a 9-0 victory over Wright State. The Blue Raiders jumped on Wright State early scoring three quick runs in the top of the first inning. Freshman Caitlin McLure started things off with a bunt single and advanced to second on a wild pitch. A sacrifice bunt by Justine Cerda moved McLure to third. A double by Mielke put runners at second and third and McLure scored off a ground out by Darlington which advanced Mielke to score. The second wild pitch of the inning by Wright State pitcher Allison Cox allowed Mielke to score. A single by Ashley Cline continued the inning and she promptly stole her ninth base of the season. A double by Martha Davis scored Cline for the third run of the inning.
Mielke led off the third inning with a single through the left side. A sacrifice bunt by Darlington moved Mielke to second and she scored off a fielder's choice that allowed Cline to reach first and then move to second on a Wright State error. Davis came up and hit her first triple of the season to score Cline and then she rounded the bases thanks to Floyd's second homerun of the season.
Middle Tennessee added two additional runs in the top of the fifth again thanks to Floyd as her two RBI single allowed the Blue Raiders two record its second run-rule game of the season.
Lefty hurler Vander Lugt notched her second shutout of the season and sixth complete game. She allowed just two hits in five innings and struck out three.
Floyd led the club going 2-for-3 with a homerun, four RBI and a run scored.
Middle Tennessee returns to action on Saturday in the second day of the Buzz Classic. The Blue Raiders face San Jose State at 11 a.m. and Purdue at 1 p.m. The top three teams from the five pools will move on to bracket play on Sunday.
