Middle Tennessee State University Athletics
Middle Tennessee
17-15, 0
Marshall
14-13, 0
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: MCNEEL, Zac (1-1)
L: Spencer, AJ (2-1)
Batting:
2B: PASTRANA, Reynaldo 1 ; HUTZAL, Peter 1 ; ROBBINS, Dakota 1
HR: MATTHEWS, Kody 2
RBI: RAY, Will 1 ; PASTRANA, Reynaldo 2 ; HUTZAL, Peter 1 ; MATTHEWS, Kody 3
SH: HUTZAL, Peter 1
Base Running:
RUNS: ZBAN, Andrew 1 ; HANON, Shane 2 ; RAY, Will 2 ; PASTRANA, Reynaldo 2 ; MATTHEWS, Kody 2
CS: ZBAN, Andrew 1
Batting:
2B: Aucker, Aaron 2 ; Freeman Jr., Darrell 1
RBI: Woodard, LA 1 ; Dennis, Austin 1 ; Benefield, Blake 1 ; Antonini, Aaron 1
SH: Freeman Jr., Darrell 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Aucker, Aaron 2 ; Freeman Jr., Darrell 1 ; Sullivan, Kevin 1
SB: Dennis, Austin 1
HBP: Freeman Jr., Darrell 1
Game Leaders
Players Mentioned
MT falls in finale to Marshall
4/8/2018 4:44:00 PM | Baseball
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – Middle Tennessee dropped the third consecutive game to the Marshall Thundering Herd in Sunday's finale, 9-4, at Reese Smith Jr. Field.
"Disappointed. Very disappointed with how we played all three games," said head coach Jim McGuire. "When you hit (a setback) like this, how we respond is key."
A.J. Spencer got his first weekend start of the season for the Blue Raiders. After a rocky first inning where he allowed three runs on three hits, Spencer settled in nicely, retiring 14 of 15 batters faced.
"I thought (A.J.) located better after the first inning," McGuire added. "He threw pretty well for his first conference weekend start.
"I was happy with the way he competed."
Spencer finished the day hurling five innings, giving up four earned runs on six hits and striking out four.
MT's offense got on the board in the bottom of the third, off back-to-back hits from Aaron Aucker and Blake Benefield and closed the gap to 3-1.
The Blue Raiders struck again in the seventh. Darrell Freeman Jr. got the inning started with a double to left field. Two runners came across the plate after LA Woodard grounded out to short stop and Austin Dennis singled up the middle.
However, Marshall scored a combined five runs in the sixth and seventh inning that put the rally out of reach.
Middle Tennessee threatened again in the ninth inning, putting several base runners on and scoring a run.
Austin Dennis and Aaron Aucker were the only Blue Raider with multiple hits on the day, with Dennis going a productive 3-for-5, with an RBI. Aucker went 2-for-4 with two doubles and a run scored.
The Blue Raiders look to bounce back next week with a pair of instate midweek contests. Belmont travels to Murfreesboro Tuesday for a game at 6:00 p.m. That follows with a trip to Tennessee Tech on Wednesday to face the Golden Eagles in Cookeville.
