Middle Tennessee State University Athletics
Friday, March 20
Boca Raton, Fla.
5:30 PM
Middle Tennessee
at
No. 19 Florida Atlantic
MT Set to Battle No. 19 Florida Atlantic
3/19/2015 10:34:00 AM | Baseball
Both teams unbeaten in C-USA play
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – Middle Tennessee (11-7, 3-0 C-USA) will play its first conference road series this weekend against No. 19 Florida Atlantic (19-3, 3-0 C-USA) at FAU Stadium. The series begins with a 5:30 p.m. CT first pitch Friday night. Game two is scheduled for 3 p.m. CT Saturday and game three has an early start at 11 a.m. CT Sunday.
MT and FAU are among four C-USA teams undefeated in league play, as the two programs square off for the 27th time since 2007. The Owls took the series 2-1 in Boca Raton, Florida the last time the two schools faced each other in 2013.
MT has managed only one road win over a ranked team since 1974. The Raiders defeated then-ranked No. 18 Louisiana, 10-1, on May 13, 2005.
The Blue Raiders, who are coming off a midweek loss at Belmont, opened C-USA play last weekend with a three-game sweep of UAB. MT enters the weekend hitting .275 at the plate, led by its three starting outfielders who have tallied 71 hits for a .335 batting average. Preseason all-conference selection Jared Allen has produced six RBI in the past four games, and recorded his team-high fourth home run in Tuesday's loss.
Friday night starter LHP Johnathan Frebis is pitching at a high level, most recently shutting out UAB with a career-high eight punchouts over seven innings of work last weekend. Frebis lowered his ERA to 2.97 and will be seeking his fourth win on the year.
Nate Hoffmann (1-1; 2.91 ERA) is lined up to make his fourth start on Saturday against the Owls. Hoffmann also registered a career-high strikeout total in his previous outing, allowing just one hit on a bunt single to the Blazers.
Sunday's starter will be announced later this week.
FAU has won 12 of its last 13 games, including a 15-0 rout of Bethune-Cookman Wednesday night. The Owls feature a lineup that has eight batters hitting .300 or better, led by preseason all-leaguer Brendon Sanger (.356, HR, 18 RBI).
The Owls' weekend rotation will be RHP Kyle Miller (3-1, 3.29 ERA), RHP Drew Jackson (4-0, 0.30 ERA) and LHP Brandon Rhodes (0-0, 3.46 ERA).
All three games will air on 92.5 FM WMOT2. Fans can also listen online and follow live stats at GoBlueRaiders.com.
MT and FAU are among four C-USA teams undefeated in league play, as the two programs square off for the 27th time since 2007. The Owls took the series 2-1 in Boca Raton, Florida the last time the two schools faced each other in 2013.
MT has managed only one road win over a ranked team since 1974. The Raiders defeated then-ranked No. 18 Louisiana, 10-1, on May 13, 2005.
The Blue Raiders, who are coming off a midweek loss at Belmont, opened C-USA play last weekend with a three-game sweep of UAB. MT enters the weekend hitting .275 at the plate, led by its three starting outfielders who have tallied 71 hits for a .335 batting average. Preseason all-conference selection Jared Allen has produced six RBI in the past four games, and recorded his team-high fourth home run in Tuesday's loss.
Friday night starter LHP Johnathan Frebis is pitching at a high level, most recently shutting out UAB with a career-high eight punchouts over seven innings of work last weekend. Frebis lowered his ERA to 2.97 and will be seeking his fourth win on the year.
Nate Hoffmann (1-1; 2.91 ERA) is lined up to make his fourth start on Saturday against the Owls. Hoffmann also registered a career-high strikeout total in his previous outing, allowing just one hit on a bunt single to the Blazers.
Sunday's starter will be announced later this week.
FAU has won 12 of its last 13 games, including a 15-0 rout of Bethune-Cookman Wednesday night. The Owls feature a lineup that has eight batters hitting .300 or better, led by preseason all-leaguer Brendon Sanger (.356, HR, 18 RBI).
The Owls' weekend rotation will be RHP Kyle Miller (3-1, 3.29 ERA), RHP Drew Jackson (4-0, 0.30 ERA) and LHP Brandon Rhodes (0-0, 3.46 ERA).
All three games will air on 92.5 FM WMOT2. Fans can also listen online and follow live stats at GoBlueRaiders.com.
Players Mentioned
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