Blue Raiders Set to Face Tennessee Tech

Wednesday, March 28

Cookeville, Tenn.

2:00 PM

Middle Tennessee

Tennessee Tech

Photo by: Adam Braden

3/27/2007 5:02:00 PM | Softball

By: David Powell

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - Middle Tennessee (16-18, 5-4 SBC) heads back on the road for a doubleheader showdown in Cookeville, Tenn., Wednesday against in-state rival Tennessee Tech (29-11). The Blue Raiders are looking to rebound from a 1-2 series defeat to Sun Belt Conference newcomer South Alabama over the weekend. Freshman pitcher Lindsey Vander Lugt continued the strong start to her college career by picking up decisions in all three games, going 1-2. She recorded an impressive 1.05 ERA over 20 innings with six strikeouts and two walks. She has recorded 95 strikeouts to just 15 walks on the season. Whitney Darlington hit an inside-the-park homerun in the same game, tying her with Martha Davis, Katie Mielke, and Muriel Ledbetter for the team lead in home runs. Her three RBI tie her with Katie Mielke for the team lead. Melissa Weiland won the final game of Saturday's doubleheader as she hit her second walk-off homerun of the season and fourth of her career. Corrie Abel led the team with .500 batting average by going 5-for-10, raising her season average to .375. Ohio Valley Conference leaders Tennessee Tech are coming off a series win against Tennessee-Martin and have won eight of their last 10 games. The Eagles are led by OVC homerun leader Beth Boden who is batting .402 with 15 home runs and 39 RBI on the season. The Blue Raiders won both contests in Murfreesboro last season. The Blue Raiders face-off in the first game of the doubleheader at 2 p.m. The final game is scheduled to start at 4 p.m. Russell Luna will broadcast both games live on 'GoBlueRaiders.com.'