Brentz pitches complete game in win

Friday, March 20

Reese Smith Field

6:00 PM

Middle Tennessee

Florida Atlantic

3/20/2009 11:23:00 PM | Baseball

By: MT Athletic Communications

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - Sophomore Bryce Brentz pitched his first complete game in a 7-2 win over Florida Atlantic on Friday night. Brentz allowed two runs on nine hits in nine innings of work with six strikeouts as he improved to 2-0 on the season. Brentz becomes the first Blue Raider pitcher since Matt Scott in 2005 to pitch a nine-inning complete game. The Blue Raiders (15-3, 6-1 SBC) also performed well at the plate and defensively to back up Brentz on the mound. Middle Tennessee had seven hits on the night with no errors. Middle Tennessee had no defensive errors for the first time since Feb. 25 when it defeated Tennessee Tech 9-8. Senior Nathan Hines guided the Blue Raiders at the plate going 3 for 4 with a grand slam, four RBI and scored two runs. Hines' grand slam gave the Blue Raiders a four-run lead after being tied at one. Senior Rawley Bishop added to the offense with two hits of his own with one RBI and scored a run. FAU (13-4, 3-3) had nine hits on the night but leaving 11 runners on base scoring a season low runs. Mike Gipson took the loss for the Blue Raiders as he allowed seven runs on five hits in five innings of work. FAU took an early lead scoring one run in the top of the first but the Blue Raiders got out of the inning without further damage as the runner at third was caught stealing at home on a throw to Robertson by Brentz. Middle Tennessee loaded bases twice with no outs tying the game at one on a single by Bishop. Then a grand slam by Hines to right field broke the game open handing the Blue Raiders a four-run lead. The Blue Raiders will play the second game of the series at 4 p.m. on Saturday, March 21 at Reese Smith Jr. Field. Live stats and audio will be available on goblueraiders.com and on the radio on 8.3 FM.