Middle Tennessee State University Athletics
Saturday, May 13
Houston, TX
2 PM
Middle Tennessee
22-28, 8-18
13
at
1
Rice
23-28, 13-13
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
R
H
E
Middle Tennessee
0
2
0
3
1
0
2
3
2
13
16
1
Rice
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
1
5
1
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Puckett, Cody (3-4)
L: Zach Esquivel (6-5)
Batting:
2B: Kemp, Ryan 1
RBI: Delgado, Riley 2 ; Kemp, Ryan 2 ; Dennis, Austin 1 ; King, Kaleb 4 ; Huff, Drew 1 ; Benefield, Blake 1 ; Antonini, Aaron 1
SF: Dennis, Austin 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Delgado, Riley 1 ; Jarreau, Brad 1 ; Kunsa, Phillip 1 ; Kemp, Ryan 2 ; Aucker, Aaron 3 ; Dennis, Austin 2 ; King, Kaleb 1 ; Benefield, Blake 1 ; Antonini, Aaron 1
SB: Kemp, Ryan 1
CS: Dennis, Austin 1
Batting:
2B: Dominic DiCaprio 1 ; Darryn Sheppard 1
RBI: Darryn Sheppard 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Brad Gneiting 1
HBP: Ryan Chandler 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
4
R
1
H
4
RBI
4
rf/cf
AB
4
R
2
H
3
RBI
1
AB
4
R
1
H
1
RBI
2
Players Mentioned
C
/ Baseball
IF
/ Baseball
OF/IF
/ BaseballSS
/ BaseballOF/IF
/ Baseball
OF/1B
/ Baseball
LHP
/ Baseball
Puckett's Brilliance Leads the Charge in Dominating Win
5/13/2017 6:19:00 PM | Baseball
The senior threw seven scoreless innings.
HOUSTON, Texas – Cody Puckett's brilliance on the mound and a balanced offensive attack sparked Middle Tennessee in its commanding 13-1 win over Rice Saturday afternoon at Reckling Park.
The Blue Raiders (22-28, 8-18) dominated the Owls (23-28, 13-13) in all aspects of the game from the start.
Puckett (3-4) was carving up the Owls from the start, tying a career-high throwing seven scoreless innings. The southpaw only allowed four hits and two walks, while striking out eight in his best outing of the season.
"Cody (Puckett) was huge for us today," said Head Coach Jim McGuire. "His first couple of innings were shaky, but he found ways to get out of trouble early. After that, he was in command for the rest of the game."
MT offense woke up after yesterday's three run showing, raking in 16 hits, with eight of the nine Blue Raider starters amounting at least one hit in the contest.
Senior Kaleb King tied a career high, going 4-of-4 while tying another career-high with four RBI. Second baseman Ryan Kemp was solid at the plate, finishing 3-for-6 two runs and two RBI, while sophomore Austin Dennis went 3-of-4 two runs and an RBI.
"We had everything rolling today. We got big-time hits in key places, and took advantage at the plate when we had opportunities to score," said McGuire.
The Blue Raiders got on the board first in the second inning thanks to their patience at the plate. After a called first strike MT let 12 straight balls go by to load up the bases on three walks. Third baseman Drew Huff, scored Aaron Aucker from third via a fielder's choice, giving Middle Tennessee the 1-0 lead.
MT was not done in the inning, when Murfreesboro native Blake Benefield smacked an RBI-single through the left side, plating Dennis from third.
The Blue Raiders led 2-0 after two innings.
Middle Tennessee struck again in the fourth with a two-out rally. With runners on first and second, freshman catcher Aaron Antonini pulled a two-out RBI single through the right side, scoring King from second.
The reliable Riley Delgado kept the scoring going, with a two-RBI single over the shortstop's head, scoring Benefield and Antonini.
MT led 5-0 after four innings of play.
In the fifth, the Blue Raiders added another run after King singled through the left side, scoring Kemp after he singled and stole second earlier in the frame.
The Blue Raider offensive barrage continued into the seventh inning, when Aaron Aucker started things off with a single to left field. Dennis followed with a single of his own, plus a two-base error on the right fielder, scoring Aucker.
King resumed his hot-hitting in the game, raking his third hit and second RBI with a single through the left side, bringing home Dennis.
MT was up 8-0 after seven.
In the eighth, Middle Tennessee added another three runs, with Kemp crushing a two-out RBI-double to deep right center. Jarreau scored putting the Blue Raiders up 9-0. King kept the inning going, with his career-tying fourth hit of the game, a two-RBI single.
MT tacked on another two runs in the ninth, as they scored in seven of the nine innings.
Rice starter, Zach Esquivel (6-5) was tagged with the loss after only going 3-2/3 innings.
The rubber match is slated for noon tomorrow.
The Blue Raiders (22-28, 8-18) dominated the Owls (23-28, 13-13) in all aspects of the game from the start.
Puckett (3-4) was carving up the Owls from the start, tying a career-high throwing seven scoreless innings. The southpaw only allowed four hits and two walks, while striking out eight in his best outing of the season.
"Cody (Puckett) was huge for us today," said Head Coach Jim McGuire. "His first couple of innings were shaky, but he found ways to get out of trouble early. After that, he was in command for the rest of the game."
MT offense woke up after yesterday's three run showing, raking in 16 hits, with eight of the nine Blue Raider starters amounting at least one hit in the contest.
Senior Kaleb King tied a career high, going 4-of-4 while tying another career-high with four RBI. Second baseman Ryan Kemp was solid at the plate, finishing 3-for-6 two runs and two RBI, while sophomore Austin Dennis went 3-of-4 two runs and an RBI.
"We had everything rolling today. We got big-time hits in key places, and took advantage at the plate when we had opportunities to score," said McGuire.
The Blue Raiders got on the board first in the second inning thanks to their patience at the plate. After a called first strike MT let 12 straight balls go by to load up the bases on three walks. Third baseman Drew Huff, scored Aaron Aucker from third via a fielder's choice, giving Middle Tennessee the 1-0 lead.
MT was not done in the inning, when Murfreesboro native Blake Benefield smacked an RBI-single through the left side, plating Dennis from third.
The Blue Raiders led 2-0 after two innings.
Middle Tennessee struck again in the fourth with a two-out rally. With runners on first and second, freshman catcher Aaron Antonini pulled a two-out RBI single through the right side, scoring King from second.
The reliable Riley Delgado kept the scoring going, with a two-RBI single over the shortstop's head, scoring Benefield and Antonini.
MT led 5-0 after four innings of play.
In the fifth, the Blue Raiders added another run after King singled through the left side, scoring Kemp after he singled and stole second earlier in the frame.
The Blue Raider offensive barrage continued into the seventh inning, when Aaron Aucker started things off with a single to left field. Dennis followed with a single of his own, plus a two-base error on the right fielder, scoring Aucker.
King resumed his hot-hitting in the game, raking his third hit and second RBI with a single through the left side, bringing home Dennis.
MT was up 8-0 after seven.
In the eighth, Middle Tennessee added another three runs, with Kemp crushing a two-out RBI-double to deep right center. Jarreau scored putting the Blue Raiders up 9-0. King kept the inning going, with his career-tying fourth hit of the game, a two-RBI single.
MT tacked on another two runs in the ninth, as they scored in seven of the nine innings.
Rice starter, Zach Esquivel (6-5) was tagged with the loss after only going 3-2/3 innings.
The rubber match is slated for noon tomorrow.
Facility tour – Stephen and Denise Smith Student-Athlete Performance Center
Wednesday, July 30
Spring Sports Show hosted by The Boulevard – April 21, 2025: Softball and Baseball
Monday, April 21
🎥 from the 52nd annual Groundhog Day Luncheon! Also, we play baseball this month 🤩
Sunday, February 02
MTSU Baseball 2025 52nd Annual Groundhog Day Luncheon
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