Middle Tennessee State University Athletics
Middle Tennessee
3-1
Alabama
4-0
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Adams (1-0)
L: Lester, Carson (1-1)
Batting:
2B: Lopez, Manuel 1 ; Benefield, Blake 1
Batting:
2B: Avant 1
RBI: Vance 2 ; Taylor 1 ; Avant 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Alexander 1 ; Avant 1 ; Manning 1 ; Kaufman 1
HBP: Breaux 1 ; Holcombe 1 ; Avant 2 ; Kaufman 1
Game Leaders
Players Mentioned
Blue Raiders fall to Alabama in Tuscaloosa
2/20/2018 6:50:00 PM | Baseball
First loss of 2018 season
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Middle Tennessee dropped its first game of the 2018 season, 4-0, to the Alabama Crimson Tide in Sewell-Thomas Stadium Tuesday afternoon.
Despite logging four hits, the Blue Raiders couldn't plate any runs, going 0-for-4 with runners in scoring position. Manuel Lopez (1-for-3) and Blake Benefield (1-for-2) each collected doubles.
"We pitched well enough and played good enough defense for a midweek game for sure," said Head Coach Jim McGuire. "We just didn't swing the bats and we didn't situationally hit when we had a chance to do it."
The Crimson Tide threw seven pitchers throughout the game, preventing the Blue Raiders from establishing any rhythm at the plate.
"I don't think we adjusted from pitcher to pitcher well enough," McGuire added. "That's going to be the difference in games, can you make the adjustment to what's going on?"
Junior RHP Carson Lester (1-1) started the game for Middle Tennessee on short rest, but only threw 1-2/3 innings. After a flawless first inning, the Tide got to Lester in the second frame, scoring three of their four runs.
Freshman Zach Keenan relieved Lester in the second, thwarting the Tide from adding to its lead. Andy Wright logged three innings of relief, only allowing one hit against 11 batters faced in an outstanding relief effort to keep the Blue Raiders in the game.
Austin Dennis hurled the final frame for the Blue Raiders, giving up two hits and one earned run.
"We'll just keep working and keep trying to correct what we can and continue to get better," said McGuire.
The Blue Raiders return to the friendly confines of Reese Smith Jr. Field this weekend for the annual Mule Mix Classic. Game one against Fairleigh Dickinson is scheduled for a 3:00 p.m. start time. Fans can tune in to 100.5/101.9 FM WGNS for radio coverage.
