MT Sweeps Sunday Doubleheader

Sunday, March 1

Clearwater, Fla.

9 a.m.

Middle Tennessee

8-5

Oakland

8-9

Middle Tennessee

Oakland

3/1/2015 2:28:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

CLEARWATER, Fla. - The Middle Tennessee softball team (9-5) registered a sweep on the final day of the USF Under Armour Invite, defeating Oakland (8-9) in extra innings, 9-6, before hanging on for a 3-2 victory over Sacred Heart (1-7) in the final contest.

With the win, MT is one win shy of matching last season's win total, while improving to 2-1 in extra inning contests after the win over Oakland.

Freshman Cor'Nisha Birdsong paced the MT offense over the weekend with a .462 average (6-of-14) from the plate with five RBIs and was a perfect 6-for-6 on the basepaths.

Junior Carlie Jenkins plated six runners to go along with four hits, while senior Kelci Cheney went 2-1 inside the circle with an impressive 1.38 ERA in 13 innings of work.

Game 1: Middle Tennessee - 9 Oakland - 6 F/8

The Blue Raiders stepped up when they needed to as three runs in the top of the eighth led to their second extra-inning victory of the season. Junior Kiarra Freeman's RBI single that scored junior Cheyenne Willis broke the 6-6 tie.In the ensuing at-bat, Birdsong cleared the bases with a two RBI-single up the middle that plated Freeman and freshman Makenzie Prince to give the Blue Raiders the 9-6 lead.

Cheney came in for the final two innings of the contest to register the victory for her fourth win of the season. The right-hander came in and shutdown an Oakland lineup that had 11 hits and six runs in the first six innings, allowing only one hit.

After MT put one on the board in the top of the first off a Jenkins groundout, Oakland responded with a two-run shot that gave the Grizzlies a 2-1 lead. In the following inning, Willis sent a solo shot to right center for her first homer of the season that tied the contest at 2-apiece.

After OU scored three runs in the bottom of the fourth to take a 5-2 advantage, MT dug deep and scored two runs in the next two innings to score four unanswered runs and take a 6-5 lead. Seniors Samantha Nieves, Alma Cortez and Birdsong all had RBIs during the rally.

Oakland would go onto tie the game in the bottom of the seventh to force extra innings before MT claimed the win.

Caitlin McClure got the start but didn't factor into the decision as the senior pitched three innings and allowed three runs on four hits. The right-hander faced bases-loaded jams on three occassions but only to come away with little damage done.

Sophomore Megan Chocallo came in for three innings of relief to allow seven hits and three runs.

Birdsong recorded her fifth multi-hit game with a 3-for-4 showing and a career-high three RBIs. Cortez and Jenkins both tallied a hit and an RBI, while Freeman went 2-for-4 from the dish and an RBI. Junior Megan Griffith also chipped in with a hit as well.

Game 2: Middle Tennessee - 3 Sacred Heart - 2

All MT needed was one hit and timely pitching to propel past the Pioneers.With both pitchers putting zeroes across the board and MT struggling to get the offense going, junior Carlie Jenkins gave the Blue Raiders their only hit of the game in the bottom off the fifth with a bases-clearing double to left field that gave MT a 3-0 lead.

Sacred Heart gave the Blue Raiders all they could handle as Pioneers got two on the board to cut the lead to one, 3-2. SHU would load the bases with two outs after a walk that brought in a run, but McClure stepped up to strike out the final batter, earning her first save and securing the victory for MT.

Cheney picked up the win, improving her record to 5-4 on the year while allowing just two hits and zero runs in five innings. The right-hander pitched another gem and has allowed only three earned runs in her last five starts.

Sophomore Megan Chocallo came in for 1.1 innings of work to allow two runs on four hits, while McClure tallied her first save of the season.

Jenkins finished the game 1-for-3 from the plate with three RBIs, while freshman Morgan Harris, freshman Cor'Nisha Birdsong and junior Kiarra Freeman all came across the plate for a score.

"I'm really proud of the way this team fights to the end," said head coach Jeff Breeden. "They don't get rattled when facing adversity, they just keep playing. Our pitchers were solid all weekend, and our hitters made good adjustments and showed some power today. It's now time to get into Conference USA play"

MT will open up its home slate on Wednesday against Tennessee State at 6 p.m. at Blue Raider Softball Field. Rainy weather is expected to hit the area this week so follow goblueraiders.com, @MT_Softball and @MTAthletics for the latest cancellations and schedule changes.