Blue Raiders slam Austin Peay 18-8

Wednesday, April 1

Clarksville, Tenn.

6:00 PM

Middle Tennessee

Austin Peay

4/1/2009 9:43:00 PM | Baseball

By: MT Athletic Communications

CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. - Middle Tennessee used a team effort to defeat Austin Peay 18-8 as it used 22 players in the game. The Blue Raiders have now won 11 straight games over APSU as they improve to 21-4 on the season. Sophomore Tyler Burnett (Murfreesboro, Tenn.) ended the night 3 for 4 with a double and scored three runs. Senior Nathan Hines (Murfreesboro, Tenn.) added assistance at the plate as he 2 for 6 with a home run, triple, five RBI and scored two runs. Middle Tennessee had 17 hits on the day with seven extra base hits including four home runs. Sophomore Bryce Brentz (Knoxville, Tenn.) picked up his 13 home run of the season while senior Rawley Bishop (Germantown, Tenn.) continues to chase history as he needs just one home run to tie the all-time career home run record at Middle Tennessee. Junior Chad Edwards (Paducah, Ky.) took the win on the mound as he allowed six runs on 11 hits in five innings of work as he improved to 4-0 on the season. Senior Brett Smalley (Chattanooga, Tenn.), sophomore Nick Montgomery (San Marcos, Texas), freshman Brett Wilson (Murfreesboro, Tenn.) and junior Coty Woods (Murfreesboro, Tenn.) combined in relief working four innings allowing two runs on four hits. Austin Peay used eight pitchers in the game with Jeremy Dobbs taking the loss as he allowed two runs on two hits and walked five batters in 2.2 innings of work. The Blue Raiders put two runs on the board in the top of the third on a two-out double down the left field line by Meinhart. Darlington singled in the top of the fourth to left field allowing Dennis to score from third and extend the Blue Raider lead to three. Brentz stepped to the plate, with Darlington at first, and hit a home run to centerfield putting Middle Tennessee up by five runs. Then Bishop hit a solo home run in the next at bat for the Blue Raiders making it 6-0. The Blue Raiders were not done as Box stepped to the plate with two-outs, runners at first and second and hit a three-run shot to left field. Then Hines hit a two-run home run to centerfield as the Blue Raiders took an 11-0 lead after a nine run, eight hit, and four home run inning. The last time Middle Tennessee hit back-to-back home runs was in the sixth inning against FAU on March 22 that was also courtesy of Brentz and Bishop. The Blue Raiders hit the most home runs in an inning since 2005 when they hit five in the 6th against Memphis. APSU scored one run in the bottom of the fourth as Kole scored on an error by Bishop. Middle Tennessee added another run in the fifth as Burnett batted in to a force play which allowed a runner to score from third. Dean, pinch hit for Box, doubled to left center allowing another runner to score from third. The Govs added another run on a solo shot to left center by Kole making it 13-2 in favor of Middle Tennessee in the bottom of the sixth. Austin Peay added five runs on six hits in the inning to close the gap, 13-6. Middle Tennessee added two more runs in the top of the seventh extending the lead back to nine runs, 15-6. Hunton hit a two-run home run to left field in the seventh adding to the APSU total. The Blue Raiders will round out their nine-game road swing when they travel to Lafayette, La., to face UL-Lafayette in a three-game series. Middle Tennessee will play the first game of the series at 6:30 p.m. on Friday, April 3. Audio of all the weekend games will be available on 88.3 FM in Murfreesboro, Tenn., and on goblueraiders.com.