MT Continue C-USA play, hosts UTSA for Weekend Series

Saturday, March 28

Murfreesboro, Tenn.

2 p.m.

Middle Tennessee

UTSA

3/27/2015 10:37:00 AM | Softball

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – The Middle Tennessee softball team (12-14, 1-8 C-USA) will play UTSA (21-11, 5-3 C-USA) for the first time ever in a three-game series this weekend at Blue Raider Softball Field. The series will start on Saturday with a doubleheader beginning at 2 p.m.

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Saturday, March 28th
Game 1: @MT_Softball vs. UTSA - 2 p.m.
Live Stats | Live Video

Game 2: @MT_Softball vs. UTSA - 4 p.m.
Live Stats | Live Video

Sunday, March 29th
@MT_Softball vs.UTSA - 12 p.m.
Live Stats

About the Blue Raiders

Last Time Out
The Blue Raiders snapped a five-game skid in the second contest of their doubleheader against UT Martin, 6-2, to pick up a split on the day. Senior Samantha Nieves went 3-for-5 with a double and two RBIs while senior Alma Cortez belted her-team leading second homer of the season in the first contest. Junior Kelci Cheney picked up the win going 4.2 innings of action while allowing two hits and zero runs to record her seventh win of the season.

Better Late than Never
Through 26 games this season, the Blue Raiders have been outscored 58-26 in the first two innings of the year. However, MT has outscored its opponents in the third, fourth and fifth innings by a score 68-53. The 29 runs scored in the third innings are the most in any inning while the plus-10 (19-9) scoring margin is the highest in any inning.

Consistent Sammie
Nieves has notched a hit in the previous four contests and six out of the last eight games while increasing her batting average from .327 to .333. She's hitting .350 (7-for-20) over the previous eight games with three RBIs. Overall, she's been one of the most consistent hitters this season notching the a hit in 16 of 25 games and does a good job putting the ball in play, only striking out twice in 69 at-bats.

Conference USA Stats Rankings (As of March 22nd, 2015)
With C-USA action in full swing, the Blue Raiders have some players ranked in the top-10 in statistical categories. Birdsong ranks sixth in batting average with a .438 hitting clip, eighth in on-base percentage (.512) and third with 23 stolen bases. Junior Carlie Jenkins is fourth in the league with nine doubles, while Cheney ranks in the top-10 in innings pitched with 66 and seventh with 17 appearances.

Sparkplug Shadley
Sophomore Marinna Shadley provided a spark for the Blue Raiders in their win as she went 2-for-2 from the plate with a run scored. She also laid down a nice sacrifice bunt that set up Riddell for her two-RBI single that gave MT its first lead of the game. She was also recognized at the women's basketball game on Thursday for being inducted into the Chi Alpha Sigma National College Athlete Honor Society,maintaining a 3.4 or higher GPA throughout her junior and senior year.

Scouting the Opponent

UTSA (21-11, 5-3 C-USA) – 4th C-USA West
Led by second-year head coach Michelle Cheatham, The Roadrunners have fell in their last three contests by a combined three runs against UAB, and most recently suffering a pair of one-run losses to Texas. The Roadrunners are first in almost every offensive category as they boast a .324 average and are first in slugging percentage on base percentage, RBIs, triples and home runs. Jade Smith leads UTSA with a .433 average from the plate while Megan Low and Randee Crawford both pace UTSA with 10 homers and Crawford has a team-best 43 RBIs. Chelsea Parker leads the Roadrunner pitching staff with a 7-3 record and a 3.11 ERA.

Series History

This weekend will be the first all-time series against the Roadrunners.

Next Up: Belmont

The Blue Raiders will be making the short trip up to Nashville to take on Belmont at 5 p.m., on Wednesday.