Blue Raider bats catch fire in 13-9 win

Saturday, April 17

Troy, Ala.

6:00 PM

Middle Tennessee

Troy

Photo by: Bradley Lambert

4/17/2010 10:23:00 PM | Baseball

By: MT Athletic Communications

TROY, Ala. - The Blue Raider offense got back in the groove on Saturday night recording 12 hits in a 13-9 win over Troy after recording just five hits on Friday night. Junior Bryce Brentz led the Blue Raiders with three hits and drove in seven of their 13 runs. Brentz had a grand slam and an RBI double and single on the night. "We needed every bit of offense and needed to get the offense going. We really swung the bat outstanding the early part of the game and then kept plugging away. Welcome back Bryce Brentz! What a great day he had. When he hit the grand slam I said don't get so locked in on this left-hander because they have a right-hander up and chances are they go right to him so keep your patience. Coach Pierce for Troy decided to not second guess him and made the change and the pitcher made the mistake to Bryce," head coach Steve Peterson said. Sophomore Justin Guidry and senior Drew Robertson each recorded two hits with Guidry bringing in two runs and Robertson hitting a double. Defensively, Guidry had a number of catches at the wall which kept runs from scoring for Troy. "We had big hits all the way around and big defensive plays, bad defensive plays but the last play with McDade going to his right, snagging that ball and getting it to Palo," Peterson said. Seniors Zach Hudson and Blake McDade along with Brentz each scored three runs for the Blue Raiders. Middle Tennessee had 12 hits on the night, four of which were for extra bases. Junior Hunter Dawson improved to 3-0 on the season after allowing just one hit in 2.2 innings of work and striking out five batters. "I am very proud of what Hunter Dawson did. That is as far as we have ever had him go and pushed him to the limits," Peterson said. Freshman Daniel Palo picked up the first save of his career entering the game with one out in the ninth allowing no runs or hits with runners in scoring position to keep the lead for the Blue Raiders. Senior Chad Edwards received the start on the mound working 1.2 innings allowing seven runs on five hits with two strikeouts. Senior Kevin Whittaker entered the game in the second and allowed two runs on five hits in 1.2 innings of work. Freshman Hunter Adkins also worked on the mound in relief for the Blue Raiders posting Troy had 13 hits on the night with Adam Bryant and Todd McRae each notching three hits. Bryant had a home run and a double in the game with a team high three RBI. Brentz singled up the middle in his first at-bat bringing in Hudson from second to put the Blue Raiders up 1 with no outs in the top of the first. With runners at second and third, Miller hit a groundball to the shortstop allowing McDade to score from third. The Blue Raiders added another run after Guidry hit a single up the middle. Middle Tennessee took a 3-0 lead after scoring three runs on two hits to begin play. Felix hit a solo home run in the first to put a run on the board for Troy. In the second with runners at second and third, Brentz hit a double into the left field corner adding two more runs for the Blue Raiders, 5-1. Then Burnett hit a two run shot down the left field line. The Blue Raiders scored four runs on three hits in the inning taking a six run lead, 7-1. Bryant doubled down the left field line bringing in runners from first and second. Then Felix hit a double down the right field line adding another run. Whitley singled to center bringing in Felix from second and making it a two run game, 7-2. Rivera hit a three-run home run to left field giving the Trojans their first lead, 8-7. Troy ended the inning scoring seven runs on six hits. Troy added another run in the third after a solo home run by Bryant. In the top of the fourth, Skinner scored from second on a single to the right field line by McDade keeping the Troy lead to one, 9-8. Brentz put Middle Tennessee back on top with a grand slam to left centerfield on the first pitch he saw. It is the first grand slam by a Blue Raider since Skinner hit one against Southern Illinois on March 2. The Blue Raiders will play the rubber game of the series on Sunday, April 18 at 1 p.m.