MT Suffers Extra Inning loss to SLU, shuts out MVSU

Saturday, February 7

Starkville, Miss.

9 a.m.

Middle Tennessee

0-2

Saint Louis

3-0

Saint Louis

Middle Tennessee

2/7/2015 8:18:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

Starkville, Miss.– The Blue Raider softball team (1-2) suffered a 9-8 nail-biting loss in extra innings Saturday morning to Saint Louis (3-1), but bounced back in a big way with a 14-0 victory over Mississippi Valley State (0-4) in the second contest of the day at MSU Softball Field.

The win marks the first victory of the season as MT scored 22 runs in two games after recording just one run on Friday against Mississippi State.

Junior Kelci Cheney (1-2) recorded her first win as a Blue Raider as she pitched a gem against MVSU, allowing zero runs and one hit while striking out two batters in four innings.

Through Saturday's contests, senior Samantha Nieves led the offense with an .667 average (4-of-6) from the plate with three RBI and a double, while junior Carlie Jenkins tallied four hits and a tied for a team-high four RBI, which came against MVSU. Junior Cheyenne Willis came through with four RBI as well to tie for a team-best.

Junior Kiarra Freeman and freshman Cor'Nisha Birdsong both had four hits as well, while all four players combined to hit a .533 average.
Game 1: Saint Louis – 9 Middle Tennessee -8 (F/8)
The Blue Raiders almost pulled off the comeback as they came back from at least three runs twice in the nail-biter. Down 8-5 in the final at-bat, junior Megan Griffith led off with a single to center before Jenkins doubled to advance pinch runner Marinna Shadley to third. Nieves later came through with a huge two-run double that cut the deficit to one, 8-7. With two down, senior Alma Cortez sent a clutch double to left center to score freshman Makenzie Prince and force extra innings.

But Saint Louis needed just one run in the top of the eighth to take a 9-8 lead en route to the victory. Griffith notched her second hit of the day in the inning, but MT couldn't produce the tying run.

MT was down 4-1 earlier in the contest after SLU racked up four runs in the top of the third before MT responded with four runs of its own to go up 5-4. Willis' three-run triple with the bases loaded drove in Jenkins, Griffith and Freeman to tie the contest, just before Nieves' single to right brought Willis across the plate.

Five different Blue Raiders notched multi-hit games with Nieves recording a 3-for-3 finish with three RBI and a double. Willis ended the day with a triple and three RBI, while senior Alma Cortez and freshman Morgan Harris each chipped in with an RBI.

Senior Caitlin McClure started inside the circle, but didn't factor into the decision while giving up four runs on eight hits in three innings. Sophomore Megan Chocallo and Cheney pitched the final five innings of the contest, with Cheney recording the loss.

Game 2: Middle Tennessee – 14 Mississippi Valley State 0 (F/5)
After the Blue Raiders scored two runs in the bottom of the second, MT exploded for 12 runs in the next two innings, including eight runs in the bottom of the third frame. Four Blue Raiders tallied a hit during the stanza, while taking advantage of two HBPs and an MVSU error.

Nieves loaded the bases up with a single through left field to load the bases before MT would score a run in the next five at-bats. The Blue Raiders completed the run as they took advantage of an error to grab two more runs.

The Blue Raiders tacked on four more runs in the ensuing frame to take a 14-0 lead for their largest victory since a 12-0 win over Tennessee State on April 22, 2009.

"Our kids are getting better each game we play, said head coach Jeff Breeden." We have the makings of a good season if we continue to grow as a team. Our pitchers threw well in this game, and we look to finish up the weekend playing well tomorrow, said Breeden."

Jenkins collected a game-high four RBI while going 2-of-4 from the plate, and Birdsong plated two runners and a double. Freeman, sophomore Austyn Whaley, freshman Morgan Harris, Griffith, Willis and Cortez all got in on the action with an RBI.

MT outhit MVSU 9-2 during the contest with five doubles, while also swiping six bases.

The Blue Raiders will finish up with Austin Peay tomorrow at 10:00 a.m., before ending the Bulldog Kickoff Classic with another contest against MVSU at 3:00 p.m.