Midstate Classic, Midstate Foe Due Up for MT

Tuesday, March 12

Columbia, Tenn.

6 PM

Middle Tennessee

Tennessee

3/11/2019 10:00:00 AM | Softball

By: @MTAthletics

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - After three games were canceled due to weather last week, Middle Tennessee's softball team looks forward to getting back on the diamond in midweek contests against Tennessee and Belmont.

Tuesday, March 12 - Midstate Classic (Ridley Park, Columbia, Tenn.)
MT vs. Tennessee - 6 PM (Live Stats)

Wednesday, March 13 (Blue Raider Softball Stadium)
MT vs. Belmont - 5 PM (Live Stats)

Leading Off

The last time MT defeated a ranked opponent was 2007, when it took down No. 15 Louisiana in both games of a doubleheader.
Summer Burgess, Jocelynn De La Cruz, and Lexi Cushing are the only Blue Raiders to start all 24 games for the Blue Raiders.
Claire Smith is 10-11 on stolen base attempts, followed by Sydney Heath, who is 8-8.

All-Time Series

Tennessee owns a 19-1 lead in the all-time series over the Blue Raiders, with MT's only win coming in 2000, a 2-1 victory in Murfreesboro. MT is currently on a three-game win streak against Belmont and leads the all-time series against the Bruins by a mark of 27-6.

Cushing Tied for Home Run Record

With a two-run home run to center field in the fourth inning 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.

Blue Raiders Balanced in the Circle

Four different Blue Raiders have started a game in 2019. Freshman Kailey Ahlstrom leads MT in starts with eight, while classmate Corrina Dodd leads all Blue Raiders in appearances with 13, starting five games of her own. Amber Baldwin, who has started six games, leads MT in ERA with a mark of 1.42.

Last Time

In the last meeting with the Vols in 2017, then-No. 15 ranked Tennessee scored four runs in the sixth, which turned out to be the only runs scored in the contest. Summer Burgess and Lexi Cushing were in the starting lineup for the Blue Raiders that day, and Burgess was responsible for one of MT's three base knocks of the day. In the last neutral site game for the Blue Raiders, Furman took a 4-0 win on the last day of the USF-Clearwater Parks & Recreation Invitational.

In the last matchup with Belmont, MT held off a late rally to beat the Bruins for the second time in the 2018 season, this time by a score of 9-8. Pattie Ruth Taylor earned her third win of the year, and Lexi Cushing hit one of her 23 career homers. The last time MT was home, it took a 3-0 win and an 8-0 win over Wright State in a doubleheader, with Corrina Dodd and Kailey Ahlstrom both tossing complete game shutouts.

Social Media

For live, in-game updates, follow the Blue Raiders on Twitter @MT_Softball. You can also keep up with the team on Instagram, @MT_Softball, and on Facebook.

The Blue Raider softball team will take over the @ncaasoftball Instagram account on Monday.