Middle Tennesee State University Athletics
Saturday, April 1
Charleston, WV
1 PM
Middle Tennessee
12-14, 0
8
at
6
Marshall
11-12, 0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
R
H
E
Middle Tennessee
0
0
0
1
0
0
4
0
0
3
8
12
0
Marshall
0
0
0
3
2
0
0
0
0
1
6
11
0
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Holcombe, Tyler (2-1)
L: Matt Reed (3-3)
Batting:
2B: Dennis, Austin 2 ; King, Kaleb 1 ; Kemp, Ryan 1 ; Benefield, Blake 1
HR: Dennis, Austin 1
RBI: Jarreau, Brad 1 ; Dennis, Austin 3 ; Delgado, Riley 2 ; King, Kaleb 1 ; Kemp, Ryan 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Jarreau, Brad 1 ; Dennis, Austin 2 ; Delgado, Riley 1 ; King, Kaleb 1 ; Lopez, Manuel 1 ; Kemp, Ryan 1 ; Benefield, Blake 1
CS: Kemp, Ryan 1
HBP: Dennis, Austin 1
Batting:
2B: Tyler Ratliff 1 ; Sam Finfer 1
HR: Tommy Lane 1
RBI: Tyler Ratliff 1 ; Sam Finfer 1 ; Shane Hanon 1 ; Tommy Lane 3
SH: Will Ray 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Tyler Ratliff 1 ; Sam Finfer 1 ; Shane Hanon 1 ; Tommy Lane 1 ; Leo Valenti 2
SB: Will Ray 1 ; Andrew Zban 1
PO: Cory Garrastazu 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
4
R
2
H
3
RBI
3
AB
4
R
1
H
3
RBI
0
AB
5
R
1
H
1
RBI
2
Players Mentioned
C
/ BaseballOF/IF
/ Baseball
P/OF
/ BaseballSS
/ BaseballOF/IF
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
OF
/ Baseball
OF/1B
/ Baseball
OF
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
OF
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
IF
/ Baseball
#RaiderRally: MT rallies, picks up two C-USA road wins
4/1/2017 10:02:00 PM | Baseball
The Blue Raiders used two-late inning comebacks to beat Marshall Saturday
CHARLESTON, W. Va. — Middle Tennessee showed tremendous resiliency coming from behind in both games of the conference doubleheader against Marshall, winning Game One 8-6 in 10 innings and again in Game Two 6-4 Saturday at Appalachian Power Park.
The Blue Raiders (13-14, 3-5 C-USA) scored three runs in the 10th in the first game and three runs in the ninth of the second game to steal two wins over The Thundering Herd (11-13, 3-5 C-USA).
After the two wins, MT is on its second four-game winning streak of the young season, including winning five of its last six. This Blue Raider team showed a lot of fight, coming into the weekend 0-11 when trailing after six innings.
The Blue Raiders found themselves in that very situation, trailing late in both games, and rallying to get two crucial conference wins.
"There's nothing bigger than getting two wins in conference on the road," said Head Coach Jim McGuire. "I'm really proud of the way we rebounded, after being behind in both games. It says a lot about the team and the way they're playing moving forward, I'm anxious to get back out there."
GAME ONE
The Blue Raiders used seven unanswered runs in the comeback 8-6 win in 10 innings over the Thundering Herd.
The Blue Raiders struggled to move runners across the plates, until they struck in the seventh trailing 5-1.
Redshirt freshman Manuel Lopez led off the inning with a walk. Ryan Kemp chopped a single to third base, part of his 3-of-5 day. Murfreesboro native, Blake Benefield tied his season-high, roping his third hit of the game loading the bases.
Brad Jarreau drew an RBI-walk, closing the deficit to three runs, with one out. Austin Dennis redeemed himself after an inning ending strikeout in the fifth with the bases loaded, pulling a two-RBI double to right field.
Riley Delgado tied the game with an RBI-groundout to second, scoring Jarreau. The score was tied 5-5 after seven innings.
Dennis was due for a double again in the 10th ripping a leadoff two-bagger off the third baseman's glove and down the left field line. Next play, Delgado smacked an RBI-single through the right side, scoring Dennis, and putting MT up 6-5.
The Blue Raider bats were not done in the inning as senior Kaleb King roped a two-RBI double to right center giving MT the 8-5 lead.
Marshall made it interesting in the bottom of the 10th, scoring a run and threatening with runners on first and second. Closer Tyler Holcombe (2-1) disbanded the Marshall threat with a strikeout ending the game.
Sophomore Austin Dennis put the Blue Raiders up early in a big way, catapulting his third home run of the season in the top of the fourth. MT was up 1-0 after the solo shot.
Dennis finished the game 3-of-5 with two doubles, his third home run of the season, and three RBI. Benefield and Kemp also finished with three hits apiece.
Delgado extended his hitting streak to eight games with his RBI-single in the 10th.
Will Small continues his dominance this season. The senior made his third appearance of the season, coming on in the seventh and throwing a scoreless 2-1/3 innings. Small has brought his stuff his senior season, throwing 6-1/3 scoreless innings this season all in relief.
Small got the first out of the ninth, before Holcombe came in to close out the game.
Holcombe earned the win throwing the last 1-2/3 innings of the game allowing one run on three hits and striking out two.
GAME TWO
Trailing 3-2 and going hitless from innings two through seven, the Blue Raiders looked like they were not going to be able to pull out their second win of the day.
In the eighth inning, the Blue Raiders found life and rallied. The beginning of the MT rally was sparked by an unsung hero, freshman catcher Aaron Antonini who broke up Marshall's starting pitcher, Wade Martin, six inning no hitter from the second to seventh innings, with a single to right field.
Senior Brad Jarreau sac bunted Antonini over to second. Dennis followed up Jarreau with a one-out walk. After a strikeout, sophomore Drew Huff came up with a clutch two-out single, scoring Antonini from second, tying the game at 3-3 and giving the Blue Raiders new life.
MT continued its hitting later in the ninth when another unsung hero, Phillip Kunsa came up in his first at-bat of the series and smacked a leadoff single to left field. Kunsa replaced Dennis in right field in the eighth when Dennis came in to pitch.
The Blue Raiders used the same formula from the inning before, as Kevin Sullivan laid down a sacrifice bunt, moving Kunsa in scoring position at second. Benefield stepped up after the bunt and slapped a single of his own, scoring Kunsa from second, giving the Blue Raiders the go-ahead run.
Just for insurance purposes, Dennis added a triple to his total, pulling a two-out three-bagger down the right field line scoring Antonini and Benefield, giving the Blue Raiders a 6-3 lead.
For the second straight game, Marshall made it interesting in the end, scoring a run, before Dennis (1-0) struck out the last batter, earning his first career win on the mound in 1-1/3 innings of work
Devin Conn had a solid game on the mound throwing four innings giving up one earned run, on five hits while striking out a career-high five batters.
Reliever Carson Lester had his best outing of the season throwing 3-2/3 scoreless innings, and striking out a career-high six batters. The bullpen is starting to come around for this Blue Raider team.
"The key to both games was our middle relief," stated McGuire. "Will Small and Carson Lester came through in a big way, keeping us in the game and giving our hitters a chance in the end."
The two road conference wins doubles MT's road conference wins from a season ago.
Middle Tennessee will go for the series sweep tomorrow at noon. Audio/video broadcast will be available on CUSA.TV/RaiderVision. As always a radio broadcast is on 92.3 FM WMOT 2. LIVE Tweets available @MT_Baseball.
The Blue Raiders (13-14, 3-5 C-USA) scored three runs in the 10th in the first game and three runs in the ninth of the second game to steal two wins over The Thundering Herd (11-13, 3-5 C-USA).
After the two wins, MT is on its second four-game winning streak of the young season, including winning five of its last six. This Blue Raider team showed a lot of fight, coming into the weekend 0-11 when trailing after six innings.
The Blue Raiders found themselves in that very situation, trailing late in both games, and rallying to get two crucial conference wins.
"There's nothing bigger than getting two wins in conference on the road," said Head Coach Jim McGuire. "I'm really proud of the way we rebounded, after being behind in both games. It says a lot about the team and the way they're playing moving forward, I'm anxious to get back out there."
GAME ONE
The Blue Raiders used seven unanswered runs in the comeback 8-6 win in 10 innings over the Thundering Herd.
The Blue Raiders struggled to move runners across the plates, until they struck in the seventh trailing 5-1.
Redshirt freshman Manuel Lopez led off the inning with a walk. Ryan Kemp chopped a single to third base, part of his 3-of-5 day. Murfreesboro native, Blake Benefield tied his season-high, roping his third hit of the game loading the bases.
Brad Jarreau drew an RBI-walk, closing the deficit to three runs, with one out. Austin Dennis redeemed himself after an inning ending strikeout in the fifth with the bases loaded, pulling a two-RBI double to right field.
Riley Delgado tied the game with an RBI-groundout to second, scoring Jarreau. The score was tied 5-5 after seven innings.
Dennis was due for a double again in the 10th ripping a leadoff two-bagger off the third baseman's glove and down the left field line. Next play, Delgado smacked an RBI-single through the right side, scoring Dennis, and putting MT up 6-5.
The Blue Raider bats were not done in the inning as senior Kaleb King roped a two-RBI double to right center giving MT the 8-5 lead.
Marshall made it interesting in the bottom of the 10th, scoring a run and threatening with runners on first and second. Closer Tyler Holcombe (2-1) disbanded the Marshall threat with a strikeout ending the game.
Sophomore Austin Dennis put the Blue Raiders up early in a big way, catapulting his third home run of the season in the top of the fourth. MT was up 1-0 after the solo shot.
Dennis finished the game 3-of-5 with two doubles, his third home run of the season, and three RBI. Benefield and Kemp also finished with three hits apiece.
Delgado extended his hitting streak to eight games with his RBI-single in the 10th.
Will Small continues his dominance this season. The senior made his third appearance of the season, coming on in the seventh and throwing a scoreless 2-1/3 innings. Small has brought his stuff his senior season, throwing 6-1/3 scoreless innings this season all in relief.
Small got the first out of the ninth, before Holcombe came in to close out the game.
Holcombe earned the win throwing the last 1-2/3 innings of the game allowing one run on three hits and striking out two.
GAME TWO
Trailing 3-2 and going hitless from innings two through seven, the Blue Raiders looked like they were not going to be able to pull out their second win of the day.
In the eighth inning, the Blue Raiders found life and rallied. The beginning of the MT rally was sparked by an unsung hero, freshman catcher Aaron Antonini who broke up Marshall's starting pitcher, Wade Martin, six inning no hitter from the second to seventh innings, with a single to right field.
Senior Brad Jarreau sac bunted Antonini over to second. Dennis followed up Jarreau with a one-out walk. After a strikeout, sophomore Drew Huff came up with a clutch two-out single, scoring Antonini from second, tying the game at 3-3 and giving the Blue Raiders new life.
MT continued its hitting later in the ninth when another unsung hero, Phillip Kunsa came up in his first at-bat of the series and smacked a leadoff single to left field. Kunsa replaced Dennis in right field in the eighth when Dennis came in to pitch.
The Blue Raiders used the same formula from the inning before, as Kevin Sullivan laid down a sacrifice bunt, moving Kunsa in scoring position at second. Benefield stepped up after the bunt and slapped a single of his own, scoring Kunsa from second, giving the Blue Raiders the go-ahead run.
Just for insurance purposes, Dennis added a triple to his total, pulling a two-out three-bagger down the right field line scoring Antonini and Benefield, giving the Blue Raiders a 6-3 lead.
For the second straight game, Marshall made it interesting in the end, scoring a run, before Dennis (1-0) struck out the last batter, earning his first career win on the mound in 1-1/3 innings of work
Devin Conn had a solid game on the mound throwing four innings giving up one earned run, on five hits while striking out a career-high five batters.
Reliever Carson Lester had his best outing of the season throwing 3-2/3 scoreless innings, and striking out a career-high six batters. The bullpen is starting to come around for this Blue Raider team.
"The key to both games was our middle relief," stated McGuire. "Will Small and Carson Lester came through in a big way, keeping us in the game and giving our hitters a chance in the end."
The two road conference wins doubles MT's road conference wins from a season ago.
Middle Tennessee will go for the series sweep tomorrow at noon. Audio/video broadcast will be available on CUSA.TV/RaiderVision. As always a radio broadcast is on 92.3 FM WMOT 2. LIVE Tweets available @MT_Baseball.
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