Four Run Fifth Inning Pushes Middle Tennessee past Valparaiso

Sunday, February 10

Starkville, Miss.

11 AM

Middle Tennessee

2-3

Valparaiso

0-5

Valparaiso

Middle Tennessee

2/10/2019 3:03:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

STARKVILLE, Miss. - Trailing 2-0, Middle Tennessee (2-3) scored four runs in the fifth inning and to down Valparaiso (0-5) on Sunday in their final game of the Bulldog Kickoff Classic.

With the bases loaded, Keely McGee's groundout to first brought home a run to cut the lead to 2-1. With a full count and two outs, Lani Rodriguez doubled to left center to bring home both runners and give MT a 3-2 lead. Jocelynn De La Cruz followed with a double of her own to score Rodriguez and add an insurance run.

Prior to the fifth, Valparaiso had led the entire game after scoring on an error in the first inning. They added their second run in the top of the fifth on an RBI double from Jaina Westphal.

Corrina Dodd (1-1) entered in the fifth inning and was credited with the win for MT. She pitched two and two thirds scoreless innings and allowed just one hit, one walk, and struck out three.

Jenna Edwards (0-2) took the loss for Valparaiso, pitching four and two thirds of an inning allowing four runs on eight hits and one walk.

News & Notes

The Blue Raiders only struck out once in this game.
Lani Rodriguez is 7-for-13 through her first collegiate weekend. The freshman leads the team in batting average (.538), on-base percentage (.600), and runs batted in (3).
Amber Baldwin made the start for Middle Tennessee and pitched four and one third innings and allowed one earned run in the no decision.

Coach's Comments

🗣"Lani's been on fire...we couldn't have asked her to do much more than she did"

Hear Coach Breeden's thoughts on this weekend: pic.twitter.com/xCrnvdNcF1
— MT Softball (@MT_Softball) February 10, 2019

Up Next

The Blue Raiders head out to San Diego, California, for the Campbell-Cartier Classic. They'll face the hosts, San Diego State, in their first game of the tournament on February 14th at 8pm CT.