Raiders split first day in Orlando

Friday, March 4

Orlando, Fla.

10:00 AM

Middle Tennessee

9-7

South Dakota

2-15

South Dakota

Middle Tennessee

3/4/2016 6:00:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

MT beats South Dakota before falling to UCF

By: @MT_Athletics

ORLANDO, FLA. – Middle Tennessee (9-8) split their first two games of the UCF Tournament Friday, beating South Dakota (2-15) 1-0 and falling to the host UCF Knights (9-8) 2-0.

The Raiders earned another good pitching performance from Kelci Cheney (6-5) as she earned a complete game shutout, going 7.0 innings and only allowing three hits. Cheney only walked one and struck out seven as she earned her sixth win on the season.

MT's only run came in the bottom of the fifth. Carlie Jenkins was hit by a pitch to lead things off, then Morgan Harris sacrificed her to second with a bunt. Kristen Uselton followed with a base hit down the right field line and Jenkins scored to make it 1-0 Raiders.

That's all the support Cheney needed as she retired the final ten batters she faced en route to the victory.

UCF started early against the Raiders as Linnea Goodman led off the home first with a double. She later scored on an error when MT attempted to catch Brittany Solis stealing, which put Solis on third. Two batters later Jessica Ujvari singled home Solis and the Knights had an early 2-0 lead.

That ended up being the only support UCF starter Shelby Turnier (4-8) needed, as she kept the Raider bats quiet with 7.0 shutout innings. Turnier scattered five MT hits and struck out six while only walking two.

Megan Chocallo (1-2) earned the start for the Raiders in the circle and had her most impressive performance of the season as she scattered 11 hits and only allowed the two first inning runs in 6.0 innings of work.

Precious Birdsong was a bright spot for MT as she went 3-for-4 on the afternoon. Dani Munoz and Deja Portillo were the only other Raiders to enter the hit column as they each went 1-for-2.

The Raiders will be back in action early Saturday as they are scheduled to play North Florida at 8 a.m. central time followed by a 10 a.m. scheduled start with the La Salle Explorers from Philadelphia, Pa.