Middle Tennessee State University Athletics
Monday, April 6
Clarksville, Tenn.
3 p.m.
Middle Tennessee
at
Austin Peay
Blue Raiders Set to Play Three Games in Three Days
4/5/2015 12:52:00 PM | Softball
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – The Middle Tennessee softball team (14-19) will play three games in three days beginning with a 3 p.m., contest at Austin Peay on Monday. MT will then host Tennessee State on Tuesday at 6 p.m., before heading to Decatur, Ala., to play No. 5/6 Alabama on Wednesday at 6:30 p.m.
Follow the Blue Raiders: Facebook | Twitter
Monday, April 6th
@MT_Softball at Austin Peay – 3 p.m.
Live Stats
Tuesday, April 7th
@MT_Softball vs. Tennessee State – 6:00 p.m.
Live Stats | Live Video
Wednesday, April 8th
@MT_Softball vs. No. 5/6 Alabama – 6:30 p.m
About the Blue Raiders
Last Time Out
The Blue Raiders picked up their first conference road win defeating Charlotte in the series finale on Saturday with a 10-2 run-rule victory, giving MT its first-ever win over the 49ers. Junior Randi Cookus went 3-for-3 with a career-high three RBIs and her first home run of the season. Junior Kelci Cheney improved to 8-11 on the year after coming in to relief to put in 4.1 innings of work and allowing two runs (one earned) while scattering six hits.
Cookin' Cookus
Over the previous six games, the Danville, Ill., native is batting .450 (9-for-20) from the plate with four RBIs. She's bumped her averaged up since the second UT Martin contest by just over 100 points.
Stat Leaders
With the final month under way for MT, freshman Cor'Nisha Birdsong leads the Blue Raiders with a .373 batting average, 38 hits and 30 stolen bases. She's just three swipes from moving into second most in one season. Junior Carlie Jenkins is first on the team with 32 RBIs, 12 doubles and a .510 slugging percentage. Senior Alma Cortez leads the team with three homers, and Cheney leads the team with eight wins, a 3.89 ERA, 90 innings pitched and 57 strikeouts.
When Facing In-State Teams
Austin Peay and Tennessee State will be the third and fourth opponent the Blue Raiders have played from Tennessee. MT is 3-1 this season against teams from the Volunteer State.
Facing Ranked Opponents
MT will play No. 5/6 Alabama on Wednesday while it's the second straight season the Blue Raiders have played a top-5 ranked opponent from the SEC. Last season, the Blue Raiders fell just short of upsetting then-No. 3 Tennessee, 9-8. The last ranked opponent the Blue Raiders defeated was taking two out of three against then-No. 15 Louisiana in a doubleheader sweep on March 8, 2007.
Scouting the Opponents
Austin Peay (8-21)
The Lady Govs have won three of their previous five games with a 4-5 mark at home this season. Niya Sparks is hitting .324 from the plate to lead APSU, while Christiana Gable has a team-high 26 RBIs. Natalie Ayala is 4-7 with a 6.42 ERA to lead the APSU pitching staff.
Tennessee State (9-24)
TSU has fell in its last eight games and is 1-7 on the road this season. Danica Gleason has a team-high .337 batting average with Lindsey Burgess posting a team-best five home runs. Taylor Green leads a Tiger pitching staff with five wins while teammate Jasmine Matchen has a team low 4.91 ERA in 22 appearances.
Alabama (28-9)
The 2014 national runner-ups will finish a three-game series against No. 13 Kentucky on Sunday. Alabama is 8-0 in neutral contests and 6-3 away from Tuscaloosa. Haylie McCleney leads an offense with a .485 average from the dish with a .707 slugging percentage. Alabama is hitting .325 from the plate while holding opponents to a .201 hitting clip. Sydney Littlejohn is 12-1 from the circle to lead the pitching staff that is boasing a 1.94 ERA.
Series History
Austin Peay: MT leads the all-time series with a 32-17 mark. The Blue Raiders defeating Austin Peay, 8-5, earlier this season.
Tennessee State: The Blue Raiders hold a 39-7 advantage in the series against the Tigers. Last season, TSU defeated MT in a doubleheader.
Alabama: The Crimson Tide owns a 6-0 record against the Blue Raiders. Alabama dealt MT a 9-1 setback last season on Feb. 8.
Next UP: Marshall
The Thundering Herd will visit Blue Raider Softball Field next weekend for a three-game series beginning on Saturday with a doubleheader at 2 p.m.
Follow the Blue Raiders: Facebook | Twitter
Monday, April 6th
@MT_Softball at Austin Peay – 3 p.m.
Live Stats
Tuesday, April 7th
@MT_Softball vs. Tennessee State – 6:00 p.m.
Live Stats | Live Video
Wednesday, April 8th
@MT_Softball vs. No. 5/6 Alabama – 6:30 p.m
About the Blue Raiders
Last Time Out
The Blue Raiders picked up their first conference road win defeating Charlotte in the series finale on Saturday with a 10-2 run-rule victory, giving MT its first-ever win over the 49ers. Junior Randi Cookus went 3-for-3 with a career-high three RBIs and her first home run of the season. Junior Kelci Cheney improved to 8-11 on the year after coming in to relief to put in 4.1 innings of work and allowing two runs (one earned) while scattering six hits.
Cookin' Cookus
Over the previous six games, the Danville, Ill., native is batting .450 (9-for-20) from the plate with four RBIs. She's bumped her averaged up since the second UT Martin contest by just over 100 points.
Stat Leaders
With the final month under way for MT, freshman Cor'Nisha Birdsong leads the Blue Raiders with a .373 batting average, 38 hits and 30 stolen bases. She's just three swipes from moving into second most in one season. Junior Carlie Jenkins is first on the team with 32 RBIs, 12 doubles and a .510 slugging percentage. Senior Alma Cortez leads the team with three homers, and Cheney leads the team with eight wins, a 3.89 ERA, 90 innings pitched and 57 strikeouts.
When Facing In-State Teams
Austin Peay and Tennessee State will be the third and fourth opponent the Blue Raiders have played from Tennessee. MT is 3-1 this season against teams from the Volunteer State.
Facing Ranked Opponents
MT will play No. 5/6 Alabama on Wednesday while it's the second straight season the Blue Raiders have played a top-5 ranked opponent from the SEC. Last season, the Blue Raiders fell just short of upsetting then-No. 3 Tennessee, 9-8. The last ranked opponent the Blue Raiders defeated was taking two out of three against then-No. 15 Louisiana in a doubleheader sweep on March 8, 2007.
Scouting the Opponents
Austin Peay (8-21)
The Lady Govs have won three of their previous five games with a 4-5 mark at home this season. Niya Sparks is hitting .324 from the plate to lead APSU, while Christiana Gable has a team-high 26 RBIs. Natalie Ayala is 4-7 with a 6.42 ERA to lead the APSU pitching staff.
Tennessee State (9-24)
TSU has fell in its last eight games and is 1-7 on the road this season. Danica Gleason has a team-high .337 batting average with Lindsey Burgess posting a team-best five home runs. Taylor Green leads a Tiger pitching staff with five wins while teammate Jasmine Matchen has a team low 4.91 ERA in 22 appearances.
Alabama (28-9)
The 2014 national runner-ups will finish a three-game series against No. 13 Kentucky on Sunday. Alabama is 8-0 in neutral contests and 6-3 away from Tuscaloosa. Haylie McCleney leads an offense with a .485 average from the dish with a .707 slugging percentage. Alabama is hitting .325 from the plate while holding opponents to a .201 hitting clip. Sydney Littlejohn is 12-1 from the circle to lead the pitching staff that is boasing a 1.94 ERA.
Series History
Austin Peay: MT leads the all-time series with a 32-17 mark. The Blue Raiders defeating Austin Peay, 8-5, earlier this season.
Tennessee State: The Blue Raiders hold a 39-7 advantage in the series against the Tigers. Last season, TSU defeated MT in a doubleheader.
Alabama: The Crimson Tide owns a 6-0 record against the Blue Raiders. Alabama dealt MT a 9-1 setback last season on Feb. 8.
Next UP: Marshall
The Thundering Herd will visit Blue Raider Softball Field next weekend for a three-game series beginning on Saturday with a doubleheader at 2 p.m.
Players Mentioned
OF
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
1B/OF
/ SoftballTrue 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
