Middle Tennessee State University Athletics
Friday, February 26
Reese Smith Jr Field
3:00 PM
Middle Tennessee
vs
Ohio
Baseball set to open up home slate
2/25/2010 3:10:00 PM | Baseball
Murfreesboro, Tenn. - The Middle Tennessee baseball team is looking to open its home season on a winning note this weekend when they face the Ohio Bobcats at Reese Smith Jr. Field. The Blue Raiders plan to duplicate the home successes of the 2009 season, which saw them win a school record 27 games.
This weekend will mark the first-ever meeting between Ohio and Middle Tennessee, and it will be only the third time that the Blue Raiders have matched up against a Mid-American Conference opponent under Steve Peterson. Peterson boasts an overall record of 3-2 against MAC opponents.
The Blue Raiders (1-1) began their season last Friday with a dramatic come-from-behind victory at Memphis, scoring four runs in the final two innings to win 4-3. On Saturday, Memphis rebounded with a bases-loaded single to break a 6-6 tie in the bottom of the ninth to hand Middle Tennessee its first loss on the young season. Ohio (1-2) is coming off a 13-6 win over Towson after dropping games to North Carolina A&T and Elon in the Elon Classic.
Offensively, Middle Tennessee is led by consensus First Team All-American Bryce Brentz and Blake McDade. Brentz, who was also named the Preseason Sun Belt Player of the Year, had a solid start to the season with a pair of hits and three walks over two games. However, it was McDade who led the Blue Raiders, going a blistering 6 of 10 at the plate on the weekend and extending his team-leading hit streak to 18 consecutive games. Justin Miller also had a great showing last Saturday, compiling a pair of hits, including a home run, and four runs batted in.
The Blue Raider defense has been headed up by freshman shortstop Ryan Ford, who made his fair share of spectacular plays last weekend to keep Memphis runners off the base paths. Pitcher Kenneth Roberts, named a Third Team All-American by three different publications, turned in a solid five innings in his first start of the year on Friday and is slated to start again in Friday's game against Ohio.
Ohio has a Third Team All-American of its own in outfielder Gauntlett Eldemire, who collected three hits, including a solo home run last weekend. Jerod Yakubik and Robert Maddox III combined to notch 12 hits and 8 RBI for the Bobcats, who were picked to finish third in the MAC's East division.
Opening pitch for Friday's game is set for 3 p.m. at Reese Smith Jr. Field. First pitch for Saturday is at 2 p.m., and the game on Sunday is set to start at 1 p.m.
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