Middle Tennessee State University Athletics
Saturday, March 7
El Paso, Texas
5 p.m.
Middle Tennessee
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UTEP
MT Opens C-USA Play on the Road
3/6/2015 12:00:00 PM | Softball
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – The Middle Tennessee softball team (9-5, 0-0 C-USA) will open up Conference USA play on the road this weekend in El Paso, Texas for a three-game series against UTEP (3-19, 0-0 C-USA) at Helen of Troy Softball Field.
Follow the Blue Raiders: Facebook | Twitter
Saturday, March 12th
@MT_Softball at UTEP – 5 p.m.
Live Stats | Live Video (Subscription Required)
@MT_Softball at UTEP – 7 p.m.
Live Stats | Live Video (Subscription Required)
Sunday, March 13th
@MT_Softball at UTEP – 1 p.m.
Live Stats | Live Video (Subscription Required)
About the Blue Raiders
Last Time Out
The Blue Raiders finished an even 2-2 at the USF Under Armour Invite while winning their last two contests with a 9-6 extra-inning victory over Oakland, before hanging on for a 3-2 win against Sacred Heart. Freshman Cor'Nisha Birdsong paced the MT offense with a .462 average from the dish and tying for a team-high with five RBIs. She also finished 6-for-6 on stolen base attempts. Junior Kelci Cheney led the pitching staff with a 2-1 mark and an ERA of 1.38.
Conference Opener
MT will play in its second season in C-USA after finishing with three wins in 2014 while falling in their conference opener last year to North Texas, 5-1. The Blue Raiders are 1-1 in conference openers under head coach Jeff Breeden.
Raider Rally
After coming back from a three-run deficit to defeat Oakland in extra innings, the Blue Raiders have come back from at least three runs in three separate games. MT came from behind against St. Louis, Louisville and Oakland. All three games went into extra innings while boasting a 2-1 mark.
Cheney Coming into her Own
Cheney has been shutting down lineups as of late while allowing just three earned runs over her past four starts (3-1). The Terrell, Texas native is 5-4 this season and has already surpassed last season's leading winner. Since the season opener against Mississippi State, Cheney has a spectacular ERA of just one and has allowed either zero or one run in four of her previous five starts, and the other start she only allowed two runs. The right-hander is ranked in the top-10 in C-USA in ERA, innings pitched, wins and home runs allowed.
Fifth Inning Fire
The Blue Raiders have outscored their opponents by a combined score of 18-3 this season, the highest margin (plus-15) of run differential out of any inning this season.
MT Softball Never Sleeps
After moving back the Tennessee State contest to next Thursday, MT will play eight games in nine days in El Paso, Texas, Las Cruces, N.M. and back in Murfreesboro for the final four games of the week.
What to Watch For
Look for the Blue Raiders to stay agressive on the basepaths this weekend as they average just over three stolen bases in their nine wins, while averaging just over one swipe in five losses. MT also 20 extra-base hits in its 9 wins as opposed to just nine in the five losses.
Schedule Additions
With the crazy weather that has cancelled seven games, MT has made up for it adding three games thus far. MT's single contest with Alabama State on April 27th has been changed to a doubleheader, while the home game against UT Martin on March 25th will also be a doubleheader. The Blue Raiders' matchup with Austin Peay is now a doubleheader on March 18th.
Scouting the Opponent
UTEP (3-19, 0-0 C-USA)
The Miners are off to a 3-19 mark in their first 22 games while falling in 14 of their previous 15 contests. Despite the slow start, 14 of UTEP's 19 losses have come within three runs or less. UTEP most recently fell in mid-week doubleheader to New Mexico on Tuesday. Netane Kawehiokalani leads an offense that is hitting .284 on the season as she is batting a team-high .377 from the dish. She also leads the team in RBIs (11), doubles (four), triples (two) and home runs (two). Opposing offenses has taken advantage of a pitching staff that is allowing a 7.10 ERA this season. Danielle Pearson paces the team with two wins in 12 appearances.
Series History
UTEP leads the all-time series between the two foes with a 3-0 mark. MT suffered a sweep last season in the first-ever series at Helen of Troy Softball field in El, Paso.
UP NEXT
MT will head to Las Cruces, N.M., for a midweek contest against New Mexico State at 12 p.m., on Tuesday.
Follow the Blue Raiders: Facebook | Twitter
Saturday, March 12th
@MT_Softball at UTEP – 5 p.m.
Live Stats | Live Video (Subscription Required)
@MT_Softball at UTEP – 7 p.m.
Live Stats | Live Video (Subscription Required)
Sunday, March 13th
@MT_Softball at UTEP – 1 p.m.
Live Stats | Live Video (Subscription Required)
About the Blue Raiders
Last Time Out
The Blue Raiders finished an even 2-2 at the USF Under Armour Invite while winning their last two contests with a 9-6 extra-inning victory over Oakland, before hanging on for a 3-2 win against Sacred Heart. Freshman Cor'Nisha Birdsong paced the MT offense with a .462 average from the dish and tying for a team-high with five RBIs. She also finished 6-for-6 on stolen base attempts. Junior Kelci Cheney led the pitching staff with a 2-1 mark and an ERA of 1.38.
Conference Opener
MT will play in its second season in C-USA after finishing with three wins in 2014 while falling in their conference opener last year to North Texas, 5-1. The Blue Raiders are 1-1 in conference openers under head coach Jeff Breeden.
Raider Rally
After coming back from a three-run deficit to defeat Oakland in extra innings, the Blue Raiders have come back from at least three runs in three separate games. MT came from behind against St. Louis, Louisville and Oakland. All three games went into extra innings while boasting a 2-1 mark.
Cheney Coming into her Own
Cheney has been shutting down lineups as of late while allowing just three earned runs over her past four starts (3-1). The Terrell, Texas native is 5-4 this season and has already surpassed last season's leading winner. Since the season opener against Mississippi State, Cheney has a spectacular ERA of just one and has allowed either zero or one run in four of her previous five starts, and the other start she only allowed two runs. The right-hander is ranked in the top-10 in C-USA in ERA, innings pitched, wins and home runs allowed.
Fifth Inning Fire
The Blue Raiders have outscored their opponents by a combined score of 18-3 this season, the highest margin (plus-15) of run differential out of any inning this season.
MT Softball Never Sleeps
After moving back the Tennessee State contest to next Thursday, MT will play eight games in nine days in El Paso, Texas, Las Cruces, N.M. and back in Murfreesboro for the final four games of the week.
What to Watch For
Look for the Blue Raiders to stay agressive on the basepaths this weekend as they average just over three stolen bases in their nine wins, while averaging just over one swipe in five losses. MT also 20 extra-base hits in its 9 wins as opposed to just nine in the five losses.
Schedule Additions
With the crazy weather that has cancelled seven games, MT has made up for it adding three games thus far. MT's single contest with Alabama State on April 27th has been changed to a doubleheader, while the home game against UT Martin on March 25th will also be a doubleheader. The Blue Raiders' matchup with Austin Peay is now a doubleheader on March 18th.
Scouting the Opponent
UTEP (3-19, 0-0 C-USA)
The Miners are off to a 3-19 mark in their first 22 games while falling in 14 of their previous 15 contests. Despite the slow start, 14 of UTEP's 19 losses have come within three runs or less. UTEP most recently fell in mid-week doubleheader to New Mexico on Tuesday. Netane Kawehiokalani leads an offense that is hitting .284 on the season as she is batting a team-high .377 from the dish. She also leads the team in RBIs (11), doubles (four), triples (two) and home runs (two). Opposing offenses has taken advantage of a pitching staff that is allowing a 7.10 ERA this season. Danielle Pearson paces the team with two wins in 12 appearances.
Series History
UTEP leads the all-time series between the two foes with a 3-0 mark. MT suffered a sweep last season in the first-ever series at Helen of Troy Softball field in El, Paso.
UP NEXT
MT will head to Las Cruces, N.M., for a midweek contest against New Mexico State at 12 p.m., on Tuesday.
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