Birdsong's Grand Slam Lifts MT Over Presbyterian

Sunday, March 4

Jacksonville, Fla.

10:30 AM

Middle Tennessee

15-6

Presbyterian

1-16

Middle Tennessee

Presbyterian

3/4/2018 2:03:00 PM | Softball

Box Score Box Score Play-by-Play Season Stats

JACKSONVILLE, Tenn. – The Middle Tennessee softball team closed out the Osprey Classic with a 10-6 win over Presbyterian on Sunday morning. The Blue Raiders are now 15-6 on the year after a second-straight 4-1 weekend on the road.

The win was highlighted by an inside the park grand slam from senior Precious Birdsong. She was 4-for-5 on the day with two runs and five RBI.

The Blue Raiders jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead in the first inning as Summer Burgess and Birdsong started off the game with back-to-back singles. Lexi Cushing sent in the first run of the inning on a sacrifice fly to center. Claire Smith brought the other run across as she beat out an infield single.

Kirstyn Cuccia led off the second inning with a double to left field. A sacrifice bunt from Deja Portillo and then a sacrifice fly from Burgess gave MT the 3-0 lead.

The Blue Hose made their first mark on the scoreboard in the third inning. Two leadoff singles and then a ground out put runners in scoring position for PC. Then a hit up the middle brought one run across and nearly two but Birdsong fired it to Morgan Harris behind the plate to keep the score at 3-1. Harris came up big again in the inning as she picked off a runner on second base to end the frame.

MT got that one run back in the fifth inning. Burgess landed on second after a single up the middle and a stolen base. Cushing brought her home once again as she sent a single through the left side of the infield.

The Blue Raiders added to their lead with a big sixth inning. With one out, MT loaded the bases for Birdsong. Cuccia reached on a bunt single, Jocelynn De La Cruz had a single to left field but was replaced by Deja Portillo on the base path and then Burgess got aboard on an infield single. Then with the outfielder's playing in for the speedy slapper, Birdsong placed the ball over the head of the right fielder. All three runs came around to score, as did Birdsong for an inside the park grand slam to give the Blue Raiders an 8-1 lead.

In the seventh, MT added two more insurance runs. Dani Munoz got aboard on a deep single to left center field. She moved up on a sacrifice fly and then a hit from Portillo. A Blue Hose fielding error allowed Munoz to score and then Birdsong sent the ball back up the middle to bring Portillo across, MT's 10^th run of the game.

Presbyterian did not go down without a fight. In the bottom of the seventh, the Blue House drummed up five runs on eight hits and one error. However, MT was able to get the final out before PC got within striking distance of the lead, to win 10-6.

Amber Baldwin got the win in the circle, playing 3.1 innings and striking out three. Baldwin is now 5-2 on the year. Gretchen Greer and Pattie Ruth Taylor each saw time as well. Greer struck out two in two innings while Taylor seized one strikeout in her one inning of work. Sophomore Sarah Pinkston saw her first action of the season late in the game. She also recorded her first career strikeout.

Up Next

Middle returns to the Blue Raider Softball field for the home opener on Tuesday, March 6. MT will take on Alabama A&M at 4 p.m.