Palo solid as Blue Raiders take 5-2 win over Jags

Friday, April 1

Reese Smith Jr. Field

6:00 PM

Middle Tennessee

South Alabama

Photo by: MT Athletic Communications

4/1/2011 8:46:00 PM | Baseball

By: MT Athletic Communications

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - Sophomore Daniel Palo pitched one of his best games of the year and had timely hitting from his offense as the Blue Raiders took a 5-2 win over South Alabama to open the weekend series Friday night at Reese Smith Jr. Field. Palo (1-3) allowed two runs on six hits in seven innings of work and did not allow USA (13-12, 3-4) to score until the eighth inning when he loaded the bases before being relieved by r-freshman Paul Mittura. The Germantown, Tenn., native struck out five batters and gave up just two extra base hits in the outing. Mittura entered the game in the eighth with the bases loaded and got two outs before the Jaguars got a hit to score its two runs. Offensively, Middle Tennessee (7-17, 1-6) had seven hits on the night led by junior Justin Guidry who went 3 for 4 with an RBI and scored two runs. Junior Matt Drake ended the night with two RBI on his one hit while senior Will Skinner scored two runs. Middle Tennessee put its first run on the board after Guidry scored from first on a throwing error by the shortstop on a ball hit by Skinner. Then Drake flied out to right field allowing Skinner to score from third making to 2-0 in favor of the Blue Raiders at the end of four. Middle Tennessee scored three runs on four hits in the sixth to run its lead out to five. Acker, Guidry, Skinner and Drake each had hits and Thomas had a one out sac bunt allowing Skinner to score. USA scored two runs on a bases loaded double to the right field corner by Sorrells in the eighth, 5-2. With runners at second and third USA's Hook fisted a ball right in front of McNabb who threw it to first for the final out and saved another run from scoring. Saturday's game with the Jaguars is set for 3 p.m. and will air on CSS as the Sun Belt Game of the Week. The two will play the series finale on Sunday, April 3 at 1 p.m. Dick Palmer will have the call on the Blue Raider Network and live stats will be available on goblueraiders.com. MBA Youth Day: Sunday, April 3 is MBA Little League Day at Reese Smith Jr. Field. All children who come to the field with their uniform jersey will receive free admission. Family members of those children may purchase a $4 ticket at the stadium ticket booth. For more information contact the Middle Tennessee Marketing office at (615) 494-7827 or (615) 898-5322.