Middle Tennessee State University Athletics
Thursday, February 21
Murfreesboro, TN.
1:00 PM
Middle Tennessee
2-2
2
vs
3
Northern Illinois
1-4
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | Runs R | Hits H | Errors E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northern Illinois | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 11 | 1 |
| Middle Tennessee | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 3 |
Players Mentioned
C
/ Baseball
OF
/ Baseball
OF
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
RHP
/ BaseballTeam Stats
Pitching:
W: THOMAS, Nate (1-0)
L: Holcombe, Tyler (1-1)
Batting:
2B: SZCZASNY, Tommy 1
RBI: JOYCE, Brendan 1 ; SMITH, Kam 1
Base Running:
RUNS: LONTEEN, Dylan 1 ; SZCZASNY, Tommy 1 ; DROBUSHEVICH, Nick 1
SB: DROBUSHEVICH, Nick 1
HBP: JOYCE, Brendan 1
Batting:
2B: Christian, Myles 1
RBI: Freeman Jr., Darrell 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Christian, Myles 1 ; Antonini, Aaron 1
CS: Carnevale, Nick 1 ; Christian, Myles 1
Game Leaders
AB
3
R
1
H
2
RBI
0
AB
5
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
4
R
1
H
1
RBI
0
AB
4
R
0
H
1
RBI
1
Raiders fall to NIU to open Mule Mix
2/21/2019 4:33:00 PM | Baseball
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – The annual Mule Mix Classic started with a soggy loss for Middle Tennessee Thursday.
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In the first of four games in the Mule Mix, the Blue Raiders (2-2) welcomed Northern Illinois (1-4) to Reese Smith Jr. Field and fell 3-2 in extra innings while a light rain fell.
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"We didn't play extremely well, but with that being said, we had a chance to win it late," MT head coach Jim Toman said. "It just didn't happen."
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Neither team could create much separation, as NIU took a 2-0 lead in the third before MT tied it with runs in the fifth and sixth.
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The tie lasted all the way until the top of the 10th, when a leadoff double turned into the deciding run for the Huskies two batters later after a one-out single up the middle.
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"It was just a tough loss," Toman said. "We got out-hit 11-5 and we had three errors … and didn't execute."
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Middle Tennessee showed a good deal of fight after falling down by two runs in the top of the third inning.
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Redshirt junior Darrell Freeman Jr. continued a strong streak by driving in a run with a single in the fifth to extend his hitting and RBI streak to three games in a row. Then, in the next inning, sophomore Myles Christian smacked a one-out double and later scored on a balk to tie the game.
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From there, MT's bats went cold, as it managed just one more hit the rest of the way.
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"We had a chance, and I'm proud of our guys for fighting back after being down 2-0," Toman said. "Late in the game, we just didn't execute."
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A key to keeping the home team in the game was a strong start from sophomore Zach Keenan.
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The reigning Conference USA Pitcher of the Week followed up a seven-inning shutout in the season opener by going five strong on Thursday, giving up two runs (one earned) and six hits while striking out three and walking none.
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"Keenan pitched pretty well, and I thought he pitched just like last week," Toman said. "We pitched pretty well … and we had a chance there in the ninth."
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Keenan was relieved in the sixth by junior Scheldon Paulk, who went 1 2/3 innings with three hits and two strikeouts. Senior Tyler Holcomb then came in for 3 1/3 innings, getting stuck with the loss after allowing an earned run, two hits and a walk, striking out three.
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At the plate, junior Aaron Antonini led the way with a 2-for-3 day. Carnevale, Christian and Freeman each had a hit apiece.
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Toman would like to see a more all-around effort from his hitters as Toledo travels to MT on Friday for the second Mule Mix matchup. First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m.
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"No excuses, but we have about three or four guys hurt right now," Toman said. "Right now, we're a little limited."
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Josh Vardaman is the staff writer for goblueraiders.com. Follow him on Twitter @J_Vardaman and also follow @MTAthletics for more on the Blue Raiders.
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In the first of four games in the Mule Mix, the Blue Raiders (2-2) welcomed Northern Illinois (1-4) to Reese Smith Jr. Field and fell 3-2 in extra innings while a light rain fell.
Â
"We didn't play extremely well, but with that being said, we had a chance to win it late," MT head coach Jim Toman said. "It just didn't happen."
Â
Neither team could create much separation, as NIU took a 2-0 lead in the third before MT tied it with runs in the fifth and sixth.
Â
The tie lasted all the way until the top of the 10th, when a leadoff double turned into the deciding run for the Huskies two batters later after a one-out single up the middle.
Â
"It was just a tough loss," Toman said. "We got out-hit 11-5 and we had three errors … and didn't execute."
Â
Middle Tennessee showed a good deal of fight after falling down by two runs in the top of the third inning.
Â
Redshirt junior Darrell Freeman Jr. continued a strong streak by driving in a run with a single in the fifth to extend his hitting and RBI streak to three games in a row. Then, in the next inning, sophomore Myles Christian smacked a one-out double and later scored on a balk to tie the game.
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From there, MT's bats went cold, as it managed just one more hit the rest of the way.
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"We had a chance, and I'm proud of our guys for fighting back after being down 2-0," Toman said. "Late in the game, we just didn't execute."
Â
A key to keeping the home team in the game was a strong start from sophomore Zach Keenan.
Â
The reigning Conference USA Pitcher of the Week followed up a seven-inning shutout in the season opener by going five strong on Thursday, giving up two runs (one earned) and six hits while striking out three and walking none.
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"Keenan pitched pretty well, and I thought he pitched just like last week," Toman said. "We pitched pretty well … and we had a chance there in the ninth."
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Keenan was relieved in the sixth by junior Scheldon Paulk, who went 1 2/3 innings with three hits and two strikeouts. Senior Tyler Holcomb then came in for 3 1/3 innings, getting stuck with the loss after allowing an earned run, two hits and a walk, striking out three.
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At the plate, junior Aaron Antonini led the way with a 2-for-3 day. Carnevale, Christian and Freeman each had a hit apiece.
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Toman would like to see a more all-around effort from his hitters as Toledo travels to MT on Friday for the second Mule Mix matchup. First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m.
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"No excuses, but we have about three or four guys hurt right now," Toman said. "Right now, we're a little limited."
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Josh Vardaman is the staff writer for goblueraiders.com. Follow him on Twitter @J_Vardaman and also follow @MTAthletics for more on the Blue Raiders.
Thursday, February 12
Monday, February 02
Tuesday, January 27
Friday, January 31
