Exciting ninth inning lifts Blue Raiders over FIU

Saturday, April 10

Reese Smith Jr Field

6:00 PM

Middle Tennessee

Florida International (CSS)

Photo by: Bradley Lambert

4/10/2010 10:07:00 PM | Baseball

By: MT Athletic Communications

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - One of the largest crowds of the season witnessed the Blue Raiders in a dramatic ninth inning performance to claim a series deciding 4-3 win over FIU on Saturday night at Reese Smith Jr. Field. To begin the inning, junior Tyler Acker struck out swinging and reached first on a throwing error by the catcher. Then freshman Ryan Ford bunted for an infield single and junior Tyler Burnett singled to centerfield loading the bases with no outs. With one out and the bases loaded, McDade hit into a fielder's choice which allowed Ford to score from third and give Middle Tennessee the win. "Their third baseman is playing on a bad ankle. Blake hit the ball, it wasn't as hard as it appeared it was hit, and startled the third baseman which happens. It hit him in the glove, popped out and fortunately it rolled away from him. All of our runners were in a read which means no running on contact because we are just looking for a ball through the infield or a fly ball. Our first two runners did exactly what they were supposed to do but Ford just took off. If the guy makes the catch it turns into a double play so the third baseman is anticipating a play at third. I really think my luck has run out these last two games but we better earn tomorrow because that was a tough loss for FIU. They played hard and well, we played hard and well and we saw a little bit of everything tonight," head coach Steve Peterson. McDade ended the game without an official hit but his fielder's choice proved to be one of the most important plays of the night. Ford and Acker each notched one hit while Burnett led the team with three. Burnett went 3 for 5 on the night with a solo home run. Senior Zach Hudson and sophomore Justin Guidry were each 2 for 4 while junior Will Skinner hit his third home run in two games driving in two of the Blue Raiders' four runs. Middle Tennessee posted 12 hits in the game while FIU had 10 led by Pablo Bermudez who went 2 for 4 with an RBI. Junior Hunter Dawson picked up the win on the mound after allowing no runs or hits in 1.2 innings of work. Senior Chad Edwards received the start on the mound and had a shutout through six innings. He faced one batter in the seventh allowing one run on six hits. Edwards worked out of a jam to end the top of the sixth. With the bases loaded and no outs he struck out Mike Martinez and then Garrett Wittels hit into a double play to end the inning. Burnett's solo shot to right field in the third put the first run on the board for the Blue Raiders. In the fourth, Skinner hit a two-run home run to left field extending the Blue Raider lead to three. In the seventh, FIU tied the game at 3 after an error by Skinner in left, a base hits and a sacrifice fly. Middle Tennessee will go for the sweep of the series on Sunday, April 11 at noon in the series finale.