Raiders Earn Doubleheader Sweep of UTEP

Saturday, April 28

Murfreesboro, Tenn.

2 PM

Middle Tennessee

32-18, 0

UTEP

18-29, 0

UTEP

Middle Tennessee

4/28/2018 7:40:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2 Box Score Game 1 Box Score Game 2 Play-by-Play Game 1 Play-by-Play Game 2 Season Stats C-USA Stats

By: Janelle Johnson

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – The Middle Tennessee softball team earned a doubleheader sweep of UTEP on Saturday afternoon. The Raiders scored seven runs in both games to smash the Miners, 7-0 and 7-2.

Cori Jennings pitched two complete games, earning two wins, her 16^th and 17^th of the year. The first game against the Miners she threw a one-hitter and in the second game she allowed just four hits. Jennings struck out six on the day.

Lexi Cushing blasted off two more home runs, one in each contest while also breaking another Middle Tennessee single season record. Cushing picked up five RBI on the day and now has 45 on the year, breaking the previous single season mark of 42 set by Brittany Herald in 2004.

Middle is now 33-18, 10-9 on the year. The 33 win mark is the best since the 2004 season and the 10 C-USA wins are the most ever. UTEP drops to 18-30, 7-13 on the year following the doubleheader.

Game One: MT 7, UTEP 0

The Raiders jumped out to a one-run lead in game one and never looked back. Summer Burgess walked to start the game. She moved to second on a wild pitch, stole third and then scored as Kristin Uselton sent a sacrifice fly to left field.

Middle maintained their 1-0 lead until striking for two runs in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings of action.

In the bottom of the fourth, Morgan Harris got aboard on an error to leadoff. Then Cushing hit her 13^th home run of the year over the right field fence.

Then in the fifth, the Raiders strung together four hits to draw out their lead to 5-0. Burgess singled to left field and Precious Birdsong followed with an infield single. Harris then sent a single to right field to score a run and Cushing sent a single up the middle to score another. Cushing's hit earned her the single season record for RBI.

Kirstyn Cuccia got the sixth inning scoring started for the Raiders with a single to right field. Burgess and Birdsong then followed with walks to load the bases. Uselton scored a run as she sent a single to center and Harris picked up the other run with a sacrifice fly to center. Cuccia and Burgess scored in the inning to give MT a 7-0 run.

UTEP's one hit of the game came in the sixth inning, wiping Jennings' chance at her second no-hitter of the season off the table. However, she still earned the complete game win. She struck out three and walked only one.

Game Two: MT 7, UTEP 2

Jennings took the circle again in game two, showcasing her endurance for the second weekend in a row. However, UTEP put a couple runs on the board first, striking in the second inning.

A pair of Miners got aboard on a walk and a single. Then Ariana Valles grounded out to score a run and Courtney Smith sent a sacrifice fly to center to give UTEP the early 2-0 lead.

The Raiders overtook the Miners in the fourth inning, scoring three runs on three hits. Claire Smith and Cuccia doubled in the inning while Danielle Munoz got hit by a pitch. It was the 18^th time she has been hit in her career, putting her fourth all-time in the category. Cuccia's double earned her one RBI while Burgess got another on an infield single later in the inning. Birdsong got the go-ahead RBI as she reached on a fielder's choice, Cuccia scored on the play to give MT a 3-2 lead.

Middle only kept the scoring rolling from that point onwards. The home team added a pair of runs in the fifth and sixth inning.

In the fifth, Harris started off the frame with a single up the middle. Then, Cushing blasted her 14^th homer of the year. This two-run shot cleared the left field fence to give the Raiders a 5-2 advantage.

In the sixth, Burgess and Birdsong leadoff with walks and Uselton moved them over with a sacrifice bunt. Harris then put the ball in play that brought Burgess across. Birdsong scored the other run as Harris was caught in a rundown between second and first. The run put MT ahead 7-2.

Besides the second frame, Jennings shut down the Miners for the second game in a row. She allowed one hit in the seventh inning but it did no harm as she picked up her 17^thvictory of the season. She struck out another three in the game.

Up Next

The Blue Raiders conclude their 2018 home schedule tomorrow, Sunday, April 29. The series finale against UTEP will serve as senior day as MT honors its seven seniors.