Blue Raiders defeat Bulldogs 10-6

Tuesday, April 21

Starkville, Miss.

6:30 PM

Middle Tennessee

Mississippi State

4/21/2009 10:30:00 PM | Baseball

By: MT Athletic Communications

STARKVILLE, Miss. - The Blue Raiders began their five-game road swing with a 10-6 win over Mississippi State on Tuesday night. Sophomore Bryce Brentz led the team at the plate throughout the night as he was 4 for 5 with a home run, three RBI and scored three runs. Senior Rawley Bishop also went 4 for 5 on the night as he had two doubles, drove a run and scored another. The Blue Raiders had 15 hits on the night with senior Grant Box having the only other multiple hit game as he went 2 for 5 with two RBI. The Bulldogs had 12 hits on the night and headed into the eighth inning with just two runs but made it a close game by plating four runs. Grant Hogue led MSU at the plate going 3 for 4 while three other players had two hits each. Junior Chad Edwards picked up the win as he allowed two runs on five hits in five innings of work Junior Coty Woods entered the game in the ninth inning to pick up his ninth save as he struck out two of the three batters he faced. Middle Tennessee put a run on the board first as Bishop doubled allowing Brentz to score from first. In the bottom of the first, the Bulldogs answered as Hogue scored from third after Duffy hit into a double play. Brentz scored the second run of the game after Ben Darlington hit into a double play allowing the Blue Raiders to take a 2-1 lead. MSU responded to tie it at two in the bottom of the inning after Collins singled to left bringing in Powers, who reached on a walk. The Middle Tennessee bats got hot in the fifth as it scored two runs on three hits to begin the inning. Then with no outs, Brentz hit a three-run shot to left centerfield to break the game open, 7-2. The Blue Raiders continued to stay hot scoring one run in the sixth and Darlington added two with his long ball to left field with Bishop at third to make it 10-2. Sneed hit a two-run home run to left field in the eighth to cut the Blue Raider lead to six. Two batters later Freeman hit a solo shot to left center to cut the lead again. MSU ended the inning scoring four runs on four hits making the score 10-6. The Blue Raiders will wrap-up the two-game series with Mississippi State at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, April 22 at Dudy Noble Field.