MT sweeps FAU with 14-6 win Sunday

Sunday, March 22

Reese Smith Field

1:00 PM

Middle Tennessee

Florida Atlantic

3/22/2009 5:14:00 PM | Baseball

By: MT Athletic Communications

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - Senior Rawley Bishop became the Middle Tennessee's career RBI leader on Sunday as he helped guide the Blue Raiders to a 14-6 win over Florida Atlantic to sweep the series. Bishop entered the game needing three RBI to set the record and broke it on a two-RBI double to left field. Bishop ended the game 2 for 5 with three RBI, a home run, double and scored one run. Sophomore Bryce Brentz and junior Stuart Meinhart also had two hits on the day as they combined for four RBI and four runs scored. Middle Tennessee (17-3, 8-1) had 13 hits on the day which included seven doubles and four home runs. Sophomore Jud Stoltz started on the mound for the Blue Raiders allowing five runs on five hits in 2.2 innings of work. Senior Brett Smalley and freshman Justin Guidry worked 6.1 innings in relief with Guidry picking up the win to improve to 2-0. Smalley allowed no hits or runs in his 2.2 innings of work while Guidry allowed one run on five hits in 3.2 innings. FAU (13-6, 3-5 SBC) had 10 hits with one home run leaving eight runners on base and using five pitchers. Glen Troyanowski took the loss as he allowed five runs on four hits in two innings of work. It is the second straight weekend sweep for the Blue Raiders who swept Arkansas State last weekend and gave the Blue Raiders a little revenge as they were swept by FAU on the road a year ago. Meinhart had a solo home run in the second to give the Blue Raiders a 1-0 lead but FAU took control from there scoring five runs on four hits in the third to take a four run lead. Middle Tennessee answered in the bottom of the inning cutting the Owl lead to one, 5-4 FAU and from there neither team would score until the sixth inning. Trailing 6-4 with a runner at third and two outs, Burnett hit a two-run shot to right field to tie the game in the bottom of the sixth. Two batters later, Brentz handed Middle Tennessee the lead with a two-run shot to left field. Then Bishop extended the lead to three with a solo shot of his own. The Blue Raiders ended the inning scoring five runs on four hits to take a 9-6 lead. It is the first time since May 21, 2008 that the Blue Raiders have hit two consecutive home runs. It was also the first time since 2005 that the Blue Raiders had more than two home runs in an inning. Bishop became the career RBI leader at Middle Tennessee as his double in the bottom of the eighth scored runners from second and third extending the lead to five. The Blue Raiders continued to score in the inning adding three more runs to take a 14-6 lead into the top of the ninth. The Blue Raiders will begin a nine-game road swing on Tuesday, March 24 at 6 p.m. when they travel to Nashville, Tenn., to face Lipscomb.