Raiders split opening day

Friday, February 12

Fort Myers, Fla.

2:45 PM

Middle Tennessee

0-1

Michigan State

1-0

Middle Tennessee

Michigan State

2/12/2016 11:59:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

MT beats FGCU, loses to Michigan State

By: @MT_Athletics

FORT MYERS, FLA. – Middle Tennessee (1-1) began the 2016 season with a split of their two games on Friday at the FGCU Kickoff Classic. The Blue Raiders began the night with a heartbreaking walk-off loss to Michigan State (1-0) 3-2, before capturing a win in their night-cap 4-2 over the host FGCU (0-1).

The Spartans got off to a quick start as lead-off hitter Lea Foerster doubled to begin the bottom of the first. McKenzie Long attempted to sacrifice Foerster to second, but an error on Danielle Munoz allowed Long to reach and Foerster to score the game's first run.

Michigan State held that 1-0 lead until the fifth when Munoz atoned for that first inning mistake by launching the Raiders' first home run of the season. It was a leadoff shot to left field on the first pitch of the fifth inning and tied the game 1-1.

Middle Tennessee took their first advantage in the top of the seventh as Precious Birdsong doubled down the left field line to bring in Kristin Uselton for the 2-1 lead.

Kelsey Cheney had pitched a superb game and went out for the bottom of the seventh looking to shut down Sparty and get the Raiders' first win of the season. But the duo of Foerster and Long were at it again.

Foerster led off with a base hit, and Long followed with a homer to right field on a 3-1 pitch that sealed the game for Michigan State, 3-2.

The Raiders managed four hits off Spartan pitching, but they were spread among four players as Birdsong, Munoz, Deja Portillo, and Megan Griffith each earned a hit a piece. Cheney (0-1) went the distance as she allowed three runs and scattered six hits over 6.0 innings of work. Only two of her runs were earned, the two on Long's home run, as she walked three and struck out one in the loss.

Three of Michigan State's six hits were gathered by Foerster who went 3-3 with two runs scored and a walk out of the lead-off spot. The Spartans used three pitchers, as Dani Goranson got the start. Goranson went 5.0 innings, gave up one run on two hits and struck out seven. Bridgette Rainey threw 1.1 and allowed one run on one hit, walked two and struck out one. Celeste Wood (1-0) got the win as she finished the final 0.2 and allowed just one base hit.

Game two started quickly for the Raiders, as they scored two runs in the second against the host FGCU Eagles. Payton Grove doubled to center to score Munoz, and Kirstyn Cuccia followed with a foul out, but it turned into a sacrifice fly as a quick thinking Uselton scored from third for a 2-0 lead.

Cheney was on fire in the circle for Middle Tennessee in the second game, as she faced the minimum for 5.1 innings during her outing. After she allowed a single to Makensie McAvoy, the second batter of the game for FGCU, Cheney retired everyone she faced until the fifth. Racquel Fournet led off the bottom of the fifth with a base hit, but was quickly erased when Bree Tourtillott lined into a double play to ensure Cheney only faced three batters in the inning.

The Raiders also gave their pitcher some more insurance in the top of the fourth. Grove reached on a fielding error that allowed Megan Griffith to score to increase the MT lead to 3-0.

Things got a little hairy in the bottom of the sixth as Eagle centerfielder Kelsey Huff earned a two-out walk. After Huff stole second, McAvoy singled to right to plate Huff with FGCU's first run of the night. Louie Ross followed with a double that scored McAvoy and the Eagles cut the MT lead to 3-2. Pattie Taylor came in to relieve Cheney in the circle, and retired Brittany McGuire to end the sixth with the Raiders still leading by one.

Middle Tennessee's offense picked up their starting pitcher as Jenkins scored on Harris's double to add some insurance. Harris eventually advanced to third, but Munoz lined out to second base to end the inning and Raiders lead held at 4-2 heading to the bottom of the seventh.

Taylor gave up a pair of singles in the bottom of the inning, but was able to retire the Eagles without any damage, and MT held on for the 4-2 win.

Harris was the only Raider with more than one hit as she went 2-4 in the game with an RBI. The Raiders were able to scatter the other six hits around as Birdsong, Jenkins, Griffith, Uselton, Grove and Cuccia each got into the hit column. Birdsong also added two walks to go with her 1-2 night at the plate.

Cheney (1-1) earned the victory in game two as she pitched 5.2 innings and gave up just two runs on four hits, walked one and struck out one. Taylor (1) threw the final 1.1 and allowed just two base hits to earn her first save of the year.

McAvoy was the only Eagle with a multi-hit night as she went 2-3 with a run scored and an RBI. Huff was 0-2, but earned the only walk given out by Cheney in the game. Riley Randolph (0-1) took the loss as the allowed three runs on five hits and walked two in 4.0 innings of work. Taylor Wade allowed the Raiders' insurance run on three hits in 2.1 innings as Gabbee Draney finished the final 0.2 for FGCU.

Middle Tennessee will be back at it early tomorrow, as they will kick off the day's action against instate rival Memphis at 8am central time. They are then scheduled to meet Kent State at 12:30pm central time.