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
Thursday, February 12
Monday, February 02
Tuesday, January 27
Friday, January 31
