Middle Tennessee State University Athletics
Wednesday, April 29
Nashville, Tenn.
6 p.m.
Middle Tennessee
21-27
3
at
0
Tennessee State
10-35
1st innning1
2nd innning2
3rd innning3
4th innning4
5th innning5
6th innning6
7th innning7
RunsR
HitsH
ErrorsE
Middle Tennessee
0
2
0
0
0
0
1
3
10
3
Tennessee State
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
6
0
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Cheney, Kelci (12-13)
L: Taylor Green (6-17)
Batting:
3B: BIRDSONG, Cor'Nisha 1
RBI: BIRDSONG, Cor'Nisha 2 ; Griffith, Megan 1
SH: Uselton, Kristin 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Jenkins, Carlie 1 ; Griffith, Megan 1 ; Whaley, Austyn 1
SB: BIRDSONG, Cor'Nisha 1
HBP: Harris, Morgan 1
Batting:
2B: Joselynn Yates 1
SH: Danica Gleason 1
Base Running:
CS: Danica Gleason 1 ; Lauren Dreitlein 1
PO: Lindsey Burgess 1
Game Leaders
AB
4
R
0
H
2
RBI
2
AB
3
R
1
H
2
RBI
0
AB
3
R
0
H
2
RBI
0
AB
4
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
OF
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
C
/ Softball
1B/OF
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
Pitching Propels MT to Shutout Victory over TSU
4/29/2015 8:49:00 PM | Softball
Cheney Pitches Gem Against Tigers
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Backed by a complete game shutout from Junior Kelci Cheney, the Middle Tennessee softball team (21-27) dealt Tennessee State (10-35) a 3-0 shutout Wednesday evening at Tiger Field.
Starters: Cor'Nisha Birdsong (CF), Alma Cortez (LF), Carlie Jenkins (1B), Morgan Harris (C), Samantha Nieves (SS), Megan Griffith (DP), Kristin Uselton (3B), Austyn Whaley (2B), Kiarra Freeman (RF), Kelci Cheney (P)
With the win, MT finishes the non-conference slate with a 17-10 mark and an 8-12 record away from Blue Raider Softball Field, which are vast improvements from last season.
All the Terrell, Texas native needed was three runs from the Blue Raiders to improve to 12-13 inside the pitching circle, allowing six hits, zero runs and one walk in her second complete game shutout of the season.
In two starts (2-0) against Tennessee State, the right-hander has pitched 13 innings, allowed zero runs, 10 hits, seven strikeouts and just two walks.
Birdsong paced the MT offense going 2-for-4 with two RBIs and her sixth triple of the season, tying a single-season record that was set by Kerry Allen in 1999 and Nina Davenport in 2012. Griffith accounted for the team's other RBI with a hit and a run scored.
Jenkins went 2-for-3 from the plate and scoring a run, while Harris showcased a 2-for-3 performance as well. Harris also gunned down two runners trying to steal and picking off a runner at third.
Nieves, Freeman and Whaley all tallied hits in the contest, with Whaley notching a run.
The Blue Raiders scored two of their runs in the top of the second inning thanks in large part to Birdsong's two-out two RBI triple that plated Griffith and Whaley.
Griffith led off the inning with a single before advancing to second off a sacrifice bunt from Uselton. Whaley then singled before advancing to second on a groundout before Birdsong's hit.
MT then added a run in the top of the seventh for extra insurance to take a 3-0 lead. Three straight Raiders got on base with a Jenkins walk and two straight singles from Harris and Nieves. In the following at-bat, Griffith sent a fielder's choice to left field to drive in Jenkins from third to score.
TSU did threaten with runners in the top of the first and second, but Harris played a pivotal role in making sure the Tigers didn't score. The freshman caught a runner stealing in both innings, while picking off a runner at third to end the second frame with runners on the corners.
"(Kelci) Cheney pitched well on a day that we did not play good defense," said head coach Jeff Breeden. "We were just good enough on offense to get the win. (Morgan) Harris was really good behind the plate with two caught stealing and a pick off at third base!"
The Blue Raiders will conclude the regular season and the conference slate with a three-game series at Blue Raider Softball Field against rival Western Kentucky. Saturday's contest will be Alumni Appreciation inviting all former softball players to be recognized, while Sunday will honor the three seniors, Alma Cortez, Caitlin McClure and Samantha Nieves for their dedicatio to the softball program.
Starters: Cor'Nisha Birdsong (CF), Alma Cortez (LF), Carlie Jenkins (1B), Morgan Harris (C), Samantha Nieves (SS), Megan Griffith (DP), Kristin Uselton (3B), Austyn Whaley (2B), Kiarra Freeman (RF), Kelci Cheney (P)
With the win, MT finishes the non-conference slate with a 17-10 mark and an 8-12 record away from Blue Raider Softball Field, which are vast improvements from last season.
All the Terrell, Texas native needed was three runs from the Blue Raiders to improve to 12-13 inside the pitching circle, allowing six hits, zero runs and one walk in her second complete game shutout of the season.
In two starts (2-0) against Tennessee State, the right-hander has pitched 13 innings, allowed zero runs, 10 hits, seven strikeouts and just two walks.
Birdsong paced the MT offense going 2-for-4 with two RBIs and her sixth triple of the season, tying a single-season record that was set by Kerry Allen in 1999 and Nina Davenport in 2012. Griffith accounted for the team's other RBI with a hit and a run scored.
Jenkins went 2-for-3 from the plate and scoring a run, while Harris showcased a 2-for-3 performance as well. Harris also gunned down two runners trying to steal and picking off a runner at third.
Nieves, Freeman and Whaley all tallied hits in the contest, with Whaley notching a run.
The Blue Raiders scored two of their runs in the top of the second inning thanks in large part to Birdsong's two-out two RBI triple that plated Griffith and Whaley.
Griffith led off the inning with a single before advancing to second off a sacrifice bunt from Uselton. Whaley then singled before advancing to second on a groundout before Birdsong's hit.
MT then added a run in the top of the seventh for extra insurance to take a 3-0 lead. Three straight Raiders got on base with a Jenkins walk and two straight singles from Harris and Nieves. In the following at-bat, Griffith sent a fielder's choice to left field to drive in Jenkins from third to score.
TSU did threaten with runners in the top of the first and second, but Harris played a pivotal role in making sure the Tigers didn't score. The freshman caught a runner stealing in both innings, while picking off a runner at third to end the second frame with runners on the corners.
"(Kelci) Cheney pitched well on a day that we did not play good defense," said head coach Jeff Breeden. "We were just good enough on offense to get the win. (Morgan) Harris was really good behind the plate with two caught stealing and a pick off at third base!"
The Blue Raiders will conclude the regular season and the conference slate with a three-game series at Blue Raider Softball Field against rival Western Kentucky. Saturday's contest will be Alumni Appreciation inviting all former softball players to be recognized, while Sunday will honor the three seniors, Alma Cortez, Caitlin McClure and Samantha Nieves for their dedicatio to the softball program.
True Blue Testimonials - Senior Catcher Ansley Blevins
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
