Blue Raiders defeat UALR 8-4 on Sunday

Sunday, April 10

Little Rock, Ark.

1:00 PM

Middle Tennessee

UALR

Photo by: Bradley Lambert

4/10/2011 4:25:00 PM | Baseball

By: MT Athletic Communications

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - The Blue Raiders combined good pitching and hitting to take an 8-4 win over UALR on Sunday afternoon at Gary Hogan Field. As a team, Middle Tennessee had 14 hits led by freshman Trent Miller who went 3 for 5 with a double, home run, three RBI and scored two runs. Sophomore Johnny Thomas also had three hits on the day scoring a run and driving in another. Sophomores Dain McNabb and Ryan Ford each had two hits on the day each scoring a run while McNabb also had an RBI. "This was a day that we hit the long ball, got the ball up in the air, the wind was blowing and it sure made a difference because we were able to get some balls out and off the wall," head coach Steve Peterson said. "Miller drove the ball well and I thought Drake had some good at bats. Johnny had three hits so it was good to come out with the win." Senior Eric Gilley worked 5.2 innings allowing four runs on five hits with three strikeouts to take the win and improve to 2-3 on the season. Middle Tennessee's pitching staff held UALR to five hits as three relievers, r-sophomore Joey McClung, senior Hunter Dawson and r-freshman Paul Mittura allowed no hits in 3.1 innings of work. Miller handed Middle Tennessee's its first run of the game as his double to left centerfield allowed Drake, who also doubled, to score from third, 1-0. Then a single by McNabb allowed Miller to score from second and give the Blue Raiders a two-run lead. Middle Tennessee ended the second inning scoring two runs on three hits. Skinner hit a solo shot to left centerfield in the third adding another run to the Blue Raiders' lead, 3-0. Miller got in on the action as well with his two-run shot to left centerfield making it 5-0 in favor of Middle Tennessee. It was Skinner's eighth home run of the season and Miller's second of his career. In the sixth, Thomas singled to left driving in McNabb from third to add another run to the board for Middle Tennessee. Then a double to centerfield by LaRue allowed Ford and Thomas to score from second and third. Middle Tennessee ended the sixth inning scoring three runs on four hits to take its lead to eight, 8-0. Rountree plated the first run for UALR after his solo home run to left centerfield to lead off the bottom of the sixth, 8-1. A bases loaded infield single by Garcia allowed two more runs to score cutting the Blue Raider lead to five, 8-3. McClung issued a bases loaded walk to Houston allowing Bentley, who also walked, to come in from third and make it a four run game. UALR ended the inning scoring four runs on three hits to cut the Blue Raider lead, 8-4. Middle Tennessee will play host to Vanderbilt on Tuesday, April 12 at 6 p.m. at Reese Smith Jr. Field in the first game of a five game home stand. The Blue Raiders will play eight of its next 10 games in the friendly confines of Reese Smith Jr. Field. Tennessee Tech will visit the Blue Raiders on Wednesday, April 13 with that game also set for 6 p.m.