Raiders take on UTEP this weekend

Saturday, April 16

Murfreesboro, Tenn.

2PM

Middle Tennessee

UTEP

4/15/2016 2:03:00 PM | Softball

MT plays the Miners at home in a pivotal C-USA match up

By: @MT_Athletics

MURFREESBORO, TENN. – Middle Tennessee (22-19, 5-7) will take to the field again this weekend against the UTEP Miners (17-23, 8-4) for another home conference series.

Saturday's double header is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m. while Sunday's game has a scheduled first pitch of noon.

The Raiders are coming off back-to-back wins over in-state rivals Austin Peay and Belmont. MT took care of the Lady Govs 3-2 at home Tuesday before powering past the Bruins 11-6 Wednesday at Rose Park in Nashville.

Middle Tennessee ran rampant at Belmont as their 10 stolen bases tied them for third in Conference USA for an all-time single-game performance by a team. Also Randi Cookus, who pinch hit for Dani Munoz in the fourth, was the only Raider to not reach base as MT pounded out nine hits and earned nine walks.

Payton Grove went 0-for-1 on the night, but she was the Raiders' most patient hitter. Grove earned four free passes in the game which tied a school record and tied her for second most in a game in C-USA history on her way to scoring three runs.

Precious Birdsong had a 3-for-4 night with a program record four steals to help MT to the win, and vault her batting average into second place on the team at .317. The centerfielder's 28 steals on the year now rank her third in C-USA this season, just one behind Elicia D'Orazio from Marshall. Birdsong has also scored 35 runs which is fourth most in in the conference.

The Raiders also seem to have no fear at they have been hit by 47 pitches, the most of any team in the conference by 15. Dani Munoz (11), Carlie Jenkins (10), and Precious Birdsong (7) rank third, fourth and fifth respectively in C-USA individually.

UTEP is currently third in the conference in team batting average with .314. They're 34 home runs are tied for third in C-USA and their 163 RBIs are tied for fourth in the league.

On the flip side the Miner pitching staff has struggled this season as their 5.46 team ERA is last in the conference. In addition to hitting the third most round trippers this season, they're pitchers have allowed the fourth most in C-USA this season.

Courtney Clayton is UTEP's leader at the plate as she is third in the league with a .409 batting average. Clayton's 14 doubles lead C-USA and Taylor Sargent is tied for fourth in the category with 11. Clayton also has 87 total bases, good enough for second in the category and her 28 RBIs place her ninth in the conference.

In the circle Kaitlin Fifield has the most starts at 17 for the Miners, but has a 6-12 record with a 4.74 ERA. Danielle Pearson has six fewer losses, as she clocks in with a 6-6 record. But Pearson's ERA is also over four at 4.27.

Despite the pitching stats, UTEP still leads the West Division of Conference USA as they enter play 8-4 in the conference with a 17-23 overall record. They've played tough competition as well as they have loses to No. 16 Texas A&M, No. 15 Arizona, two loses to No. 15 Missouri and dropped two to Texas their last time out. The last time they were on the road in conference, however, they swept FIU in Miami, a team who is now receiving votes in the Top 25.

The Raiders 5-7 conference record currently ties them for fifth in the conference's East Division with Charlotte. But Middle Tennessee is just one game behind Marshall and WKU who are tied for second in the tight division race.