Blue Raiders to Conclude Non-Conference Slate

Monday, April 27

Montgomery, Ala.

5 p.m.

Middle Tennessee

Alabama State

4/26/2015 3:11:00 PM | Softball

Four Games in Four Days for MT

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – The Middle Tennessee softball team (18-26) will conclude the non-conference schedule with four games in four days, starting with a doubleheader at Alabama State on Monday.

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Monday, April 27th | Barbara Williams Softball Complex | 5 p.m. (DH)
@MT_Softball at Alabama State
Live Stats

Tuesday, April 28th | Blue Raider Softball Field | 5 p.m.
@MT_Softball vs. Chattanooga
Live Stats | Live Video

Wednesday, April 29th | Tiger Softball Field | 6 p.m.
@MT_Softball at Tennessee State
Live Stats

About the Blue Raiders
Last Time Out
The Blue Raiders suffered a pair of close losses at Samford Monday, 4-2 and 5-4 in extra innings. Freshman Morgan Harris led the offense where she went 4-for-5 through the two contests with two homers and four RBIs. Harris hit a home run in back-to-back contests for the second time this season.

Pitching Coming Along
Despite going 3-3 in the previous six games, the pitching staff has done a better job through those games with a team ERA of 2.32 (4.74 overall). Junior Kelci Cheney has a team-best 2.21 ERA during the stretch while sophomore Megan Chocallo has pitched 14 innings and Caitlin McClure with seven strikeouts.

Better Late than Never
MT has started off slow in offense while scoring just 40 runs combined in the first two innings. Through the third, fourth and fifth inning, the Blue Raiders have scored 69.4 percent of their runs during those frames.

Going for Twenty
The Blue Raiders have an excellent chance this week to get to 20 wins. With a sweep over Alabama State tomorrow, it would be the first time since 2010 MT reached the 20-win clip, and it would also double last season's win total.

Pink Game
Tuesday's contest against Chattanooga will mark the annual pink game promoting breast cancer awareness. The first 100 fans will receive a pink t-shirt and a pink wristband.

Scouting the Opponent: Alabama State, Chattanooga, Tennessee State

Alabama State | 17-29
The Yellow Jackets completed a three-game sweep over Alcorn this weekend. Alabama State is 6-6 at home this season. Kendal Core leads the team with a .363 batting average, while teammate Alexis Johnson has a team-high seven homers. Maddie Phelps leads the pitching staff with seven wins inside the circle.

Chattanooga | 29-10
The Mocs entered the weekend with a 29-9 mark before falling to Mercer in the first game of the series. UTC boasts a 7-3 mark away from its home field while winning six of its last seven games on the road. Sarah Beth Roberts leads the way with a .406 clip from the plate and Nicole Osterman posting 12 home runs and 38 RBIs to lead the Mocs. Cori Jennings a team-high 2.32 ERA to head a pitching staff with an overall ERA of 2.53. Jennings is 12-4 inside the pitching circle.

Tennessee State | 10-34
The Tigers recently defeating Morehead State, 4-0, at Tiger Field. Five of the team's 10 wins have come at Tiger Field. Kailey Richard is hitting a team-best .308 from the dish while Lindsey Burgess has a team-high 21 RBIs. Taylor Green leads the pitching staff with six wins and Jasmine Matchen has a team-high 4.61 ERA.

Series History

Alabama State: The Blue Raiders have never lost in the six meeting between the two foes. MT has outscored ASU, 53-6 in those meetings, and dealt ASU a 3-0 setback on March 11, 2012.

Chattanooga: UTC owns a 17-2 advantage all time against MT. The Mocs have won the previous seven games. MT's last win in the series was a doubleheader sweep on March 1, 2006.

Tennessee State: Middle Tennessee has dominated the series against the Tigers with a 40-7 record. MT defeated TSU at Blue Raider Softball Field, 4-0, in the outing earlier this season.

Up Next: WKU
MT will welcome rival Western Kentucky for the final series of the season. It will mark alumni weekend for former softball players and also senior day for the three seniors, Caitlin McClure, Samantha Nieves and Alma Cortez.