Middle Tennessee State University Athletics
Wednesday, March 25
Murfreesboro, Tenn.
3 p.m.
Middle Tennessee
11-14
2
vs
7
UT Martin
14-13
1st innning1
2nd innning2
3rd innning3
4th innning4
5th innning5
6th innning6
7th innning7
RunsR
HitsH
ErrorsE
UTM
3
0
0
1
3
0
0
7
12
1
Middle Tennessee
0
0
0
1
1
0
0
2
6
1
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Cheney, Kelci (7-9)
L: TATE, Kenzi (2-4)
Batting:
3B: DIXON, Kelsey 1
RBI: SMITH, Lauren 1 ; BLANCO, Kayla 1
SH: FEIGL, Lindsey 1
SF: BLANCO, Kayla 1
Base Running:
RUNS: MCCLURE, Samantha 1 ; DIXON, Kelsey 1
SB: MCCLURE, Samantha 1 ; ZIZZI, Bella 1
CS: SMITH, Chelsey 1
HBP: MCCLURE, Samantha 1
PO: HANSEN, Alicia 1
Batting:
2B: Munoz, Danielle 1 ; Whaley, Austyn 1
RBI: Riddell, Lauren 2 ; Munoz, Danielle 2 ; Whaley, Austyn 1 ; Jenkins, Carlie 1
SH: SHADLEY, Marinna 1 ; Harris, Morgan 1
Base Running:
RUNS: BIRDSONG, Cor'Nisha 2 ; CORTEZ, Alma 1 ; SHADLEY, Marinna 1 ; Munoz, Danielle 1 ; Cuccia, Kirstyn 1
SB: BIRDSONG, Cor'Nisha 1
CS: Munoz, Danielle 1
HBP: CORTEZ, Alma 1
Game Leaders
AB
2
R
1
H
2
RBI
0
AB
3
R
1
H
2
RBI
2
AB
3
R
2
H
1
RBI
0
AB
3
R
0
H
1
RBI
2
Players Mentioned
OF
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
1B/OF
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
1B
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
MT Wins Game Two against UT Martin, Picks up Split
3/25/2015 8:51:00 PM | Softball
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – The Middle Tennessee softball team (12-14) bounced back in game two of Wednesday afternoon's doubleheader with a 6-2 victory over UT Martin (14-14) after falling in the first game, 7-2 at Blue Raider Softball Field.
Senior Samantha Nieves paced the MT offense with a 3-for-5 showing on the day with a double and two RBIs. Sophomore Lauren Riddell also chipped in with a pair of hits and two RBIs, while senior Alma Cortez tallied two RBIs, both of which came in the first game.
Junior Kelci Cheney picked up her seventh victory of the season in the second contest after going for 4.2 innings of work and allowing just two hits and striking out two batters.
Game 1: UT Martin – 7 Middle Tennessee -2
The Skyhawks took advantage of runners in scoring position with five hits when threatening to score while MT didn't have any. UT Martin struck first in the first inning with three runs on five hits to take a 3-0 lead.
MT wouldn't pick up its first hit until the bottom of the fourth inning when Cortez blasted her team-leading second home run of the season to left center, cutting the deficit to three, 4-1, after UT Martin scored in the top of the frame.
It looked like the Blue Raiders had momentum going after the home run. Riddell took one for the team as she was hit by a pitch, then Nieves singles to shortshop and advancing pinch runner Megan Griffith to second, but a double play prevented from any MT advancing the runners.
After adding three more runs in the top of the fifth to go up 7-1, the Blue Raiders cut the deficit to 7-2 thanks to sacrifice fly by Cortez that brought in junior Randi Cookus from third with the bases loaded. Cookus and junior Kiarra Freeman both recorded singles in the inning before a walk by freshman Cor'Nisha Birdsong loaded the bases for Cortez
That was the last time MT would threaten to score while the Skyhawks went on to claim the victory.
Cheney would suffer the loss after allowing three runs on six hits in 1.1 innings of action while senior Caitlin McClure pitched the final 5.2 innings of the contest allowing four runs (three earned) and six hits.
Cortez led MT with two RBIs and a hit while Riddell tallied a hit. Nieves, sophomore Austyn Whaley and Freeman all tallied singles as well.
Game 2: Middle Tennessee – 6 UT Martin – 2
The Blue Raiders bounced back in the second contest thanks to the timely hitting and excellent defense that didn't commit any errors, while four of the six runs in the game came with two outs.
After UT Martin scored one in the first to take a 1-0 lead, the Blue Raiders put two on the board thanks to a two-RBI single by Riddell that was blasted down the third-base line to drive in Birdsong and Cortez from second and third. Birdsong started the inning with a single before Cortez was hit by a pitch, and then sophomore Marinna Shadley laid down a nice sacrifice bunt moving the runners over to set up Riddell.
UT Martin scored its final run in the top of second to the game as MT scored four unanswered runs to take the 6-2 lead. In the bottom of the third, Birdsong drew a walk and Shadley singled to the shortstop before back-to-back two out doubles by Nieves and Sophomore Austyn Whaley gave MT a commanding lead at 5-2.
After two straight scoreless innings, junior Carlie Jenkins singled to right field with two outs that drove in Freeman, who pinch ran and hustled all the way from first to score and give the Blue Raiders the 6-2 lead. The Skyhawks did get a hit in their final-at, but Cheney forced the final batter to line to Nieves to end the game and pick up the victory.
Shadley stepped up in the contest with a season-high two hits and a run scored while Nieves also came away with two hits and two RBIs. Riddell posted a single and two RBIs, while Whaley chipped in with a hit and an RBI as well. Jenkins contributed with a hit and an RBI also. Birdsong came away with a hit and came in for two runs.
Sophomore Megan Chocallo pitched 2.1 innings, factoring a no decision and allowing two runs on four hits. Despite the no decision, Chocallo got herself out of trouble in the first inning, only giving up the one run with the bases load, in what could have set the tone for the game if any further damage was done.
Cheney recorded the win for MT and was backed by excellent defensive play, particulary Nieves and Cookus, who made impressive plays at third and shortstop on multiple occasions.
MT will look to take tonight's win into the weekend when it gets back into conference play against UTSA starting on Saturday with a doubleheader beginning at 2 p.m., at Blue Raider Softball Field.
Senior Samantha Nieves paced the MT offense with a 3-for-5 showing on the day with a double and two RBIs. Sophomore Lauren Riddell also chipped in with a pair of hits and two RBIs, while senior Alma Cortez tallied two RBIs, both of which came in the first game.
Junior Kelci Cheney picked up her seventh victory of the season in the second contest after going for 4.2 innings of work and allowing just two hits and striking out two batters.
Game 1: UT Martin – 7 Middle Tennessee -2
The Skyhawks took advantage of runners in scoring position with five hits when threatening to score while MT didn't have any. UT Martin struck first in the first inning with three runs on five hits to take a 3-0 lead.
MT wouldn't pick up its first hit until the bottom of the fourth inning when Cortez blasted her team-leading second home run of the season to left center, cutting the deficit to three, 4-1, after UT Martin scored in the top of the frame.
It looked like the Blue Raiders had momentum going after the home run. Riddell took one for the team as she was hit by a pitch, then Nieves singles to shortshop and advancing pinch runner Megan Griffith to second, but a double play prevented from any MT advancing the runners.
After adding three more runs in the top of the fifth to go up 7-1, the Blue Raiders cut the deficit to 7-2 thanks to sacrifice fly by Cortez that brought in junior Randi Cookus from third with the bases loaded. Cookus and junior Kiarra Freeman both recorded singles in the inning before a walk by freshman Cor'Nisha Birdsong loaded the bases for Cortez
That was the last time MT would threaten to score while the Skyhawks went on to claim the victory.
Cheney would suffer the loss after allowing three runs on six hits in 1.1 innings of action while senior Caitlin McClure pitched the final 5.2 innings of the contest allowing four runs (three earned) and six hits.
Cortez led MT with two RBIs and a hit while Riddell tallied a hit. Nieves, sophomore Austyn Whaley and Freeman all tallied singles as well.
Game 2: Middle Tennessee – 6 UT Martin – 2
The Blue Raiders bounced back in the second contest thanks to the timely hitting and excellent defense that didn't commit any errors, while four of the six runs in the game came with two outs.
After UT Martin scored one in the first to take a 1-0 lead, the Blue Raiders put two on the board thanks to a two-RBI single by Riddell that was blasted down the third-base line to drive in Birdsong and Cortez from second and third. Birdsong started the inning with a single before Cortez was hit by a pitch, and then sophomore Marinna Shadley laid down a nice sacrifice bunt moving the runners over to set up Riddell.
UT Martin scored its final run in the top of second to the game as MT scored four unanswered runs to take the 6-2 lead. In the bottom of the third, Birdsong drew a walk and Shadley singled to the shortstop before back-to-back two out doubles by Nieves and Sophomore Austyn Whaley gave MT a commanding lead at 5-2.
After two straight scoreless innings, junior Carlie Jenkins singled to right field with two outs that drove in Freeman, who pinch ran and hustled all the way from first to score and give the Blue Raiders the 6-2 lead. The Skyhawks did get a hit in their final-at, but Cheney forced the final batter to line to Nieves to end the game and pick up the victory.
Shadley stepped up in the contest with a season-high two hits and a run scored while Nieves also came away with two hits and two RBIs. Riddell posted a single and two RBIs, while Whaley chipped in with a hit and an RBI as well. Jenkins contributed with a hit and an RBI also. Birdsong came away with a hit and came in for two runs.
Sophomore Megan Chocallo pitched 2.1 innings, factoring a no decision and allowing two runs on four hits. Despite the no decision, Chocallo got herself out of trouble in the first inning, only giving up the one run with the bases load, in what could have set the tone for the game if any further damage was done.
Cheney recorded the win for MT and was backed by excellent defensive play, particulary Nieves and Cookus, who made impressive plays at third and shortstop on multiple occasions.
MT will look to take tonight's win into the weekend when it gets back into conference play against UTSA starting on Saturday with a doubleheader beginning at 2 p.m., at Blue Raider Softball Field.
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Tuesday, February 24
Season Preview - MTSU Softball
Thursday, February 05
Facility tour – Stephen and Denise Smith Student-Athlete Performance Center
Wednesday, July 30
Spring Sports Show hosted by The Boulevard – April 21, 2025: Softball and Baseball
Monday, April 21
