Middle Tennessee State University Athletics
Friday, May 8
San Antonio, Texas
6:30 PM
Middle Tennessee
at
UTSA
Blue Raiders put C-USA lead on line at UTSA
5/7/2015 5:26:00 PM | Baseball
MT opens three-game series Friday at 6 PM
SAN ANTONIO, Texas – Scoreboard watching for C-USA baseball teams will be in full effect this weekend as the teams come down the stretch and not only battle for a championship, but also jockey for postseason positioning.
Four of the league's top five teams are in action against one another with C-USA leader Middle Tennessee (28-20, 18-6) playing at UTSA (28-20, 13-11). Another key league showdown features Rice at Florida Atlantic in a three-game series in Boca Raton, Fla. Rice and Florida Atlantic are both one game behind the Blue Raiders in the league standings.
"You try to downplay all of that stuff the best you can and have your players focus on the task at hand, which is the next game," Middle Tennessee Head Coach Jim McGuire. "That being said, there is scoreboard watching. With social media being what it is now and the scores being announced at the different ballparks, players know what is going on and they keep up with it. We just have to keep taking care of Middle Tennessee and doing what we do."
Middle Tennessee has put itself in position to capture a regular-season championship with consistent play at home and on the road. The Blue Raiders have won six of their eight series. They play their final road series at UTSA this weekend before closing out the regular season at home against Southern Miss next weekend.
Senior Johnathan Frebis gets the start when the Blue Raiders open the series Friday at 6 p.m. at Roadrunner Park. Junior Nate Hoffmann will start Saturday's game on the mound, and junior lefty Tyler Troutt will get the nod Sunday.
Middle Tennessee's defense has been solid and its outfield defense also is strong. The Blue Raiders have turned 52 double plays this season, which ranks eighth nationally in Division I. Middle Tennessee is fourth nationally for outfield assists with 17, led by Ronnie Jebavy's seven, which is tied for eighth individually.
The Blue Raiders have also heated up at the plate. They collected 12 hits in each of the last four games. Sophomores Kevin Dupree and Brad Jarreau have been hot at the plate. Dupree has hit safely in six straight games and 12 of the last 14 to raise his average to .292.
Over the last five games, Jake Ingold, Austin Bryant and Jarreau are all hitting .474 or better. Ingold, who was named the C-USA Hitter of the Week last week, is hitting .556 with two home runs and five RBI in the last five games. He's hitting .353 over the last 10 games.
Jarreau has been on a tear also. He is hitting a team-best .425 over the last 10 games and is .476 during the last five. Bryant has also been an offensive standout over the last couple weeks. He is hitting .333 over the last 10 games and a hefty .474 in the last five.
Middle Tennessee has already clinched a spot in the eight-team C-USA Baseball Championship.
Four of the league's top five teams are in action against one another with C-USA leader Middle Tennessee (28-20, 18-6) playing at UTSA (28-20, 13-11). Another key league showdown features Rice at Florida Atlantic in a three-game series in Boca Raton, Fla. Rice and Florida Atlantic are both one game behind the Blue Raiders in the league standings.
"You try to downplay all of that stuff the best you can and have your players focus on the task at hand, which is the next game," Middle Tennessee Head Coach Jim McGuire. "That being said, there is scoreboard watching. With social media being what it is now and the scores being announced at the different ballparks, players know what is going on and they keep up with it. We just have to keep taking care of Middle Tennessee and doing what we do."
Middle Tennessee has put itself in position to capture a regular-season championship with consistent play at home and on the road. The Blue Raiders have won six of their eight series. They play their final road series at UTSA this weekend before closing out the regular season at home against Southern Miss next weekend.
Senior Johnathan Frebis gets the start when the Blue Raiders open the series Friday at 6 p.m. at Roadrunner Park. Junior Nate Hoffmann will start Saturday's game on the mound, and junior lefty Tyler Troutt will get the nod Sunday.
Middle Tennessee's defense has been solid and its outfield defense also is strong. The Blue Raiders have turned 52 double plays this season, which ranks eighth nationally in Division I. Middle Tennessee is fourth nationally for outfield assists with 17, led by Ronnie Jebavy's seven, which is tied for eighth individually.
The Blue Raiders have also heated up at the plate. They collected 12 hits in each of the last four games. Sophomores Kevin Dupree and Brad Jarreau have been hot at the plate. Dupree has hit safely in six straight games and 12 of the last 14 to raise his average to .292.
Over the last five games, Jake Ingold, Austin Bryant and Jarreau are all hitting .474 or better. Ingold, who was named the C-USA Hitter of the Week last week, is hitting .556 with two home runs and five RBI in the last five games. He's hitting .353 over the last 10 games.
Jarreau has been on a tear also. He is hitting a team-best .425 over the last 10 games and is .476 during the last five. Bryant has also been an offensive standout over the last couple weeks. He is hitting .333 over the last 10 games and a hefty .474 in the last five.
Middle Tennessee has already clinched a spot in the eight-team C-USA Baseball Championship.
Players Mentioned
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