Blue Raiders win Saturday 9-1 over MVSU

Saturday, May 9

Reese Smith Field

4:00 PM

Middle Tennessee

Mississippi Valley State

5/9/2009 7:34:00 PM | Baseball

By: MT Athletic Communications

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - Middle Tennessee defeated Mississippi Valley State 9-1 on Saturday to win the weekend series. Middle Tennessee had 12 hits on the day led by senior Nathan Hines who went 3 for 5 with a double, triple, two RBI and scored two runs. Senior Rawley Bishop, junior Stuart Meinhart and sophomore Tyler Burnett added assistance to the offense with two hits each. "We have been a club that can erupt. Usually we mix in a home run in the big inning but today was a different day. We executed well and got help all through the lineup," head coach Steve Peterson said. The Blue Raiders had one big inning at the plate and it proved to be all the runs they needed. Middle Tennessee scored seven of its nine runs in the second inning while the other two were scored in the eighth. Sophomore Bryce Brentz followed up his record breaking game from the night before by performing well on the mound and at the plate Saturday afternoon. Brentz was 1 for 1 with an RBI and scored a run while receiving three base on balls but performed better on the mound. Brentz worked eight innings allowing one run on three hits with four strikeouts. "Bryce got a lot off his plate yesterday and we can all say it doesn't ever bother you but there has only been one other player to do it here. I told him the harder you try to break it the less likely you are to get it. I think it got the monkey off his back," Peterson said. "He concentrated on keeping the ball down today and had a very solid ball game. It was a very nice performance for him." The Blue Raiders will go for the sweep of the series with Mississippi Valley State on Sunday, May 10 at 1 p.m. at Reese Smith Jr. Field.