Blue Raiders take 8-5 win over Trojans

Saturday, March 28

Little Rock, Ark.

6:00 PM

Middle Tennessee

Arkansas-Little Rock

3/28/2009 9:22:00 PM | Baseball

By: MT Athletic Communications

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - With the bases loaded and one out in the bottom of the ninth junior Coty Woods picked up his fifth save to help the Blue Raiders take an 8-5 win over Arkansas-Little Rock on Saturday night. Sophomore Bryce Brentz took the win for the Blue Raiders (18-4, 9-1), improving to 3-0 on the season, as he allowed five runs on eight hits in 7.2 innings of work. Freshman Brett Wilson entered the game in relief giving up just one hit in two-thirds of an inning while Woods allowed no hits or runs in his two-thirds of an inning as his one batter hit into a double play. Senior Taylor Dennis along with juniors Drew Robertson and Ben Darlington each went 2 for four in the game with Robertson scoring three runs. Middle Tennessee had a total of nine hits on the night while UALR (7-16, 3-7) also had nine hits but left 10 on base including three in the bottom of the ninth. The Blue Raiders had five extra base hits as Robertson and Darlington each had two doubles and Dennis hit a home run. UALR started the game off strong taking advantage of mistakes made by Brentz. The Trojans scored two runs after Brentz hit two batters and walked a runner to begin the inning. UALR added another run in the bottom of the third to go up by three after a solo home run by Tim Emmons. Back to back doubles to begin the top of the fourth gave Middle Tennessee one run. The Blue Raiders scored another run on a double play as a runner scored from third cutting the UALR lead to one, 3-2. The Trojans extended their lead to two in the bottom of the fourth on a groundball to the Burnett which allowed the runner at third to score. Dennis hit a solo shot to left in the fourth to put Middle Tennessee back within one. The Blue Raiders tied the game at four in the top of the sixth with back-to-back doubles again by Robertson and Darlington. Then Darlington scored on a sacrifice fly to left by Hines handing Middle Tennessee its first lead of the game, 5-4. Meinhart singled up the middle in the eighth to score Robertson from second and put the Blue Raiders up by two over the Trojans. Then pinch-hitter Zach Dean hit a sacrifice fly to right field allowing Bishop, who walked, to score from third. Meinhart scored from third on a passed ball to add another run for Middle Tennessee who scored three runs on one hit to go up 8-4. UALR scored a run in the bottom of the eighth after a single by Welch scored a runner from third. The Blue Raiders will play a doubleheader on Sunday, March 29 at 12 p.m. to round out its three-game series with UALR.