MT Falls to Maine and Radford on Day One of USF Invite

Friday, February 27

Clearwater, Fla.

11:15 a.m.

Middle Tennessee

7-4

Maine

2-4

Middle Tennessee

MAINE

2/27/2015 3:23:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

CLEARWATER, Fla. – The Middle Tennessee softball team (7-5) fell in a pair of contests on the first day of the USF Under Armour Invite Friday, falling to Maine (3-4) 5-2 before suffering a close 4-2 setback to Radford (2-7).

MT will have to win the final three games of the weekend to finish with a winning record. The Blue Raiders will look to get back to their winning ways tomorrow against Oakland at 12:45 p.m., before ending the day against Rhode Island at 2:45 p.m.

Fans can follow live stats for the Oakland game by clicking here, and can follow the Rhode Island contest by going here.

Game 1: Middle Tennessee - 2 Maine – 5
The Blue Raiders were stifled by Maine starter Alexis Bogdanovich as MT's two runs and three hits only came in the top of the third inning. Senior Alma Cortez's double to left field scored junior Randi Cookus from second after freshman Morgan Harris advanced Cookus off a sacrifice bunt. In the ensuing at-bat, freshman Cor'Nisha Birdsong plated Cortez for the team's final run of the game.

Maine capitalized on three of MT's six miscues in the bottom of the fourth to cut the lead two one, 2-1. After tying the game at 2-all in the bottom of the fifth, the Black Bears broke the 2-2 tie with three runs in the bottom of the sixth frame to take a 5-2 lead and eventually claim the win. MT could never get anything going on offense as Bogdanovich held a Blue Raider offense that came into the game averaging over six runs over the past four contests to just two runs.

Junior Kelci Cheney suffered the loss and dropped to 3-4 on the season after pitching six innings and allowing five runs (two earned) on eight hits. Cortez and Birdsong accounted for both RBIs and a hit while junior Kiarra Freeman came away with a hit.

Game 2: Middle Tennessee – 2 Radford - 4
MT had opportunities to tie the game and even take the lead on two occasions but couldn't bring runners home as eight were left on base.

The Blue Raiders struck early in the top of the first after junior Carlie Jenkins tallied an RBI single to score Birdsong once the freshman got on base with a bunt single and advancing to second with a steal.

Radford responded in the ensuing frame with two runs to take the lead and never look back. MT had a chance to tie the contest in the top of the third with runners on second and third and two outs, but RU came up with the final out to prevent MT from tying the game.

The Highlanders then tacked on two more runs in the bottom of the third to go up, 4-1.

In the top of the seventh, Freeman led off the inning with a walk that set up Birdsong's RBI double to left center that cut the deficit to two, 4-2. After Birdsong advanced on a groundout and a Jenkins walk, Radford cut the rally short in the following at-bat to secure the win.

Sophomore Megan Chocallo suffered her first loss of the season, dropping to 2-1. The Sharpsburg, Ga., native pitched a season-high six innings while allowing four runs (three earned) and nine hits. She also set a season-high with six strikeouts as well.

Birdsong and Jenkins each tallied two hits and an RBI while senior Samantha Nieves, junior Megan Griffith and sophomore Austyn Whaley all chipped in with a hit.

Radford's Abby Morrow picked up her first win as she pitched all seven innings for the Highlanders.