Middle Tennessee State University Athletics
Middle Tennessee
Charlotte
King's eighth-inning sac fly lifts MT over Charlotte, 7-6
3/14/2014 9:07:00 PM | Baseball
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - Freshman DH Kaleb King's eighth-inning sac fly proved to be the difference in a 7-6 win over Charlotte on Friday night at Reese Smith, Jr. Field. In the win, the Blue Raiders improve to 6-10 and 2-2 in C-USA, while the 49ers fall to 3-11-1 and 0-4 in C-USA.
King's fly ball to center scored junior 2B Austin Bryant, who reached after his fourth hit of the ballgame. Bryant's 4-for-4 day marked the highest single-game hit total of his career.
Middle Tennessee opened up a 6-0 lead in the ballgame thanks in large part to a five-run fourth. Austin Bryant doubled home a run after junior LF Jared Allen was hit by a pitch and junior C Michael Adkins reached on an error.
With two outs, a second batter of the inning in King was hit, and the Raiders made Charlotte pay with four more runs. Junior SS Dustin Delgado hit a two-run single to center, King scored on a wild pitch, and then senior CF Ryan Stephens brought home Delgado on a single through the infield.
Bryant drove in another run in the fifth on an RBI single, making it 6-0. Charlotte struck back in the eighth with a pair of home runs - a two-run shot to left and a grand slam to right by 49er freshman TJ Nichting.
The Raiders would answer back with the King sac fly in the eighth for the deciding run, on a fly ball into center field that plated Bryant for the 7-6 victory.
Sophomore Heath Slatton picked up the win in relief, moving to 2-1 on the year. Charlotte's Ryan Mas was charged with the loss, surrendering the eighth-inning sac fly.
Senior LHP Zac Curtis got a tough-luck no-decision despite seven shutout innings, striking out nine.
The two teams return to action on Saturday with a doubleheader at Reese Smith, Jr. Field, beginning at 1 p.m.
