Blue Raiders take 14-3 win over ASU

Saturday, March 14

Reese Smith Field

4:00 PM

Middle Tennessee

Arkansas State

3/14/2009 10:04:00 PM | Baseball

By: MT Athletic Communications

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - Middle Tennessee defeated Arkansas State 14-3 on Saturday afternoon to take a 2-0 lead in the series. The Blue Raiders (12-2, 4-1) were led throughout the game by a strong performance on the mound by junior Kenneth Roberts. Roberts worked seven innings allowing three runs, one earned on five hits with five strikeouts to improve to 3-0 on the season. "Kenny went out on the mound in the seventh and still had great pop. I told him if we got any runs in the bottom of the inning I was going to the bullpen but if we didn't he was going back out there. He still had good velocity and pop and the hitters were still reacting late to him," Peterson said. "I thought it was one of the better performances of his career." Middle Tennessee had 14 hits on the night with seven extra base hits as the pitching staff held the Red Wolves (6-8, 2-3)to eight hits on the night with just two for extra bases. Junior Ben Darlington and sophomore Bryce Brentz each ended the night with three hits as Darlington had a double and Brentz a triple. Junior Nathan Hines added the only other multiple hit performance as he was 2 for 5 with two doubles, three RBI and scored a run. Middle Tennessee played with light rain throughout the game as it had the night before but was able to play through it. "The conditions were close to terrible and almost unplayable but they weren't. We had to tolerate it. You don't see Nathan drop many fly balls if ever but it was when we had that heavy mist and its not that easy. You are running on wet grass and it is hard to see," Peterson said. "It was difficult for everyone so I'm not going to get onto anyone. There was a lot of standing water even though we got a lot of it off the field." Middle Tennessee started the scoring early in the second game of the series as it scored three runs on three hits in the bottom of the first. ASU scored a run in the top of the third after Pace singled to reach and then came home on a sacrifice bunt to first. The Blue Raiders answered in the bottom of the inning after a triple by Brentz scored on a sacrifice after hitting triple. Garcia hit a solo home run to left field in the fourth to cut the lead to two, 4-2 MT. Middle Tennessee's offense continued to produce as the Blue Raiders scored three runs on two hits in the bottom of the fourth taking a 7-2 lead. The Blue Raiders added another three runs in the bottom of the seventh with Dennis bringing in two with his triple to left field. Middle Tennessee added another four runs on four hits in the bottom of the eighth which included a two-run home run by junior Zach Dean. Middle Tennessee will go for the sweep of the series with Arkansas State at 1 p.m. on Sunday at Reese Smith Jr. Field.