Blue Raiders open conference play at WKU

Friday, March 16

Bowling Green, KY

5 PM

Middle Tennessee

WKU

3/15/2018 4:00:00 PM | Baseball

GAME INFORMATION
Hashtags: #BlueRaiders
Social Media: @MT_Baseball (Twitter) MT_Baseball (Instagram) MTSU Blue Raider Baseball (Facebook)
Broadcast: 100.5/101.9 WGNS & TuneIn App

Date: Friday, March 16 | Saturday, March 17 | Sunday, March 18
Time: 5 p.m. | 1 p.m. | 1 p.m.
Match-up: Middle Tennessee (9-8) vs. Western Kentucky (9-7)
Location: Bowling Green, Ky. @ Nick Denes Field

Projected Starting Pitchers:
LHP Jake Wyrick
RHP Carson Lester
LHP Peyton Wigginton

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – Middle Tennessee wrapped up its nonconference schedule against Austin Peay with a commanding win on Tuesday and now turns its focus towards WKU and Conference USA.

"The goal this week in practice was to make the adjustments that we know are necessary and to get better," head coach Jim McGuire said. "We just have to get ourselves prepared because we have 10 straight weekends of conference play, so it's time."

The Blue Raiders and Hilltoppers have met 121 times dating all the way back to 1974. In that time, WKU barely edges out MT in the all-time series 61-60, including a series win over the Blue Raiders in 2017.

The Hilltoppers (9-7) and Blue Raiders (9-8) share two common opponents from the non-conference slate (Memphis and West Virginia). WKU opened the season at Memphis, winning one out of three games, and also hosted West Virginia in a weekend series that the Mountaineers swept.

WKU is led at the plate by junior outfielder Jacob Rhinesmith, who is hitting at a .389 clip in 17 starts this season. Rhinesmith also leads the Hilltoppers in slugging percentage (.764) and home runs (seven of their 18 total home runs).

The Blue Raiders hot bats have carried the team to victory for much of the 2018 season. Middle Tennessee's offense has scored four runs or more in 13 straight games, which includes recording nine hits or more seven times in that stretch.

LA Woodard leads the way for Middle Tennessee in many offensive categories despite missing brief time with an injury. Woodard is atop the team in batting average (.360), on-base percentage (.484) and stolen bases, while also ranking in the top three in hits (18), doubles (four) and runs scored (15).

Austin Dennis, Aaron Aucker and Blake Benefield are also carrying a heavy load for the Blue Raider offense that averages 6.4 runs per game. While Dennis and Aucker post a high average (.313), it's the power hitting of Aucker and Benefield that pose such a significant threat.

Benefield currently leads the Blue Raiders in home runs (five) with Aucker right behind him (four). Aucker also leads the team in doubles (six) and runs batted in (22).

Jake Wyrick, Carson Lester and Peyton Wigginton will start on the mound for the Blue Raiders. First pitch on Friday is scheduled for 5 p.m. and will be broadcast on the Blue Raider Network.