Middle Tennesee State University Athletics
Friday, March 1
Clearwater, Fla.
9:00 AM
Middle Tennessee
vs
Penn
MT Softball Looks to Rebound in Florida
2/28/2019 11:00:00 AM | Softball
MURFREESBORO, Tenn.– Middle Tennessee will be looking to rebound from a loss against Austin Peay in the home opener this weekend as it travels to Clearwater, Florida, to compete in the USF-Clearwater Parks & Recreation Invitational to play six games in three days.
Live stats links will be posted on MT softball schedule online and will be found on Twitter by following @MT_Softball. The schedule will be as follows:
Friday, 9 a.m. CT – vs. Penn (Live Stats)
Friday, 2 p.m. CT – vs. Bethune-Cookman (Live Stats)
Saturday, 11:30 a.m. CT – vs. Iowa (Live Stats)
Saturday, 2 p.m. CT – vs. USF (Live Stats)
Sunday, 8 a.m. CT – vs. South Carolina (Live Stats)
Sunday, 10:15 a.m. CT – vs. Furman (Live Stats)
The Blue Raiders hold a series lead over Furman, 4-2. Bethune-Cookman, Iowa, USF, and South Carolina all hold a 1-0 advantage over the Blue Raiders in the all-time series. Friday's matchup with Penn will be the first time the Blue Raiders and Quakers have squared off on the diamond.
With a two-run home run to center field in the fourth inning of Wednesday night's game against Austin Peay, junior Lexi Cushing tied the school's career home run record. One more homer would give her 24 home runs in her career, making her the all-time leader in that category in Blue Raider history.
Junior Summer Burgess and sophomore Jocelynn De La Cruz have both reached base safely in five consecutive games. Burgess accounted for two of MT's runs against Govs on Wednesday night and boasted a 3-4 night at the plate. De La Cruz turned in a 2-3 showing at the plate, including two doubles and a walk. She was pinch ran for twice, and the pinch runner came across to score in both scenarios.
Of the six opponents at this week's event, the previous matchup with Bethune-Cookman was the most recent, as the Wildcats took a 4-3 victory in 2009. In 2006, MT earned a 3-2 win against Furman in a neutral site contest. Iowa downed the Blue Raiders by a score of 3-1 in 2005. In the only game of the series, South Carolina blanked the Blue Raiders, 5-0 in February 2004. Finally, USF won against MT by a score of 6-2 in March 1998, the only matchup in that series as well. The Blue Raiders and Quakers have no prior history and will be meeting for the first time on Friday morning.
For live, in-game updates, follow the Blue Raiders on Twitter @MT_Softball. To see behind the scenes footage and travel updates, follow @MT_Softball on Instagram. You can also keep up with the team on Facebook.
Live stats links will be posted on MT softball schedule online and will be found on Twitter by following @MT_Softball. The schedule will be as follows:
Friday, 9 a.m. CT – vs. Penn (Live Stats)
Friday, 2 p.m. CT – vs. Bethune-Cookman (Live Stats)
Saturday, 11:30 a.m. CT – vs. Iowa (Live Stats)
Saturday, 2 p.m. CT – vs. USF (Live Stats)
Sunday, 8 a.m. CT – vs. South Carolina (Live Stats)
Sunday, 10:15 a.m. CT – vs. Furman (Live Stats)
| Leading Off |
- Summer Burgess, Jocelynn De La Cruz and Lexi Cushing are the only three Blue Raiders to start all 16 games this season.
- Senior Deja Portillo leads the Blue Raiders in batting average (.400) and on-base percentage (.478) heading into the weekend.
- MT has seen complete game outings by four different pitchers so far this season.
| All-Time Series |
The Blue Raiders hold a series lead over Furman, 4-2. Bethune-Cookman, Iowa, USF, and South Carolina all hold a 1-0 advantage over the Blue Raiders in the all-time series. Friday's matchup with Penn will be the first time the Blue Raiders and Quakers have squared off on the diamond.
| Cushing Tied for Home Run Record |
With a two-run home run to center field in the fourth inning of Wednesday night's game against Austin Peay, junior Lexi Cushing tied the school's career home run record. One more homer would give her 24 home runs in her career, making her the all-time leader in that category in Blue Raider history.
| Burgess and De La Cruz Eye Continued Success at the Plate |
Junior Summer Burgess and sophomore Jocelynn De La Cruz have both reached base safely in five consecutive games. Burgess accounted for two of MT's runs against Govs on Wednesday night and boasted a 3-4 night at the plate. De La Cruz turned in a 2-3 showing at the plate, including two doubles and a walk. She was pinch ran for twice, and the pinch runner came across to score in both scenarios.
| Last Time |
Of the six opponents at this week's event, the previous matchup with Bethune-Cookman was the most recent, as the Wildcats took a 4-3 victory in 2009. In 2006, MT earned a 3-2 win against Furman in a neutral site contest. Iowa downed the Blue Raiders by a score of 3-1 in 2005. In the only game of the series, South Carolina blanked the Blue Raiders, 5-0 in February 2004. Finally, USF won against MT by a score of 6-2 in March 1998, the only matchup in that series as well. The Blue Raiders and Quakers have no prior history and will be meeting for the first time on Friday morning.
| Social Media |
For live, in-game updates, follow the Blue Raiders on Twitter @MT_Softball. To see behind the scenes footage and travel updates, follow @MT_Softball on Instagram. You can also keep up with the team on Facebook.
Players Mentioned
INF
/ Softball
1B
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
OF
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