Middle Tennessee State University Athletics
Sunday, March 31
Charlotte, N.C.
12 PM
Middle Tennessee
21-16, 0
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Charlotte
11-22, 0
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Middle Tennessee
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Charlotte
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Raiders Win Series Finale Over Charlotte
3/31/2019 2:36:00 PM | Softball
Charlotte, N.C.- The Middle Tennessee softball team took the rubber match of the three game series with Charlotte on Sunday. The Raiders (21-16 C-USA 6-3) were led by Sydney Heath, who was on base all series and tormented Charlotte (11-22, C-USA 3-9) pitchers.
In the series finale, Heath had a career high four hits, in five at bats, and accounted for two Raider runs.
"I just kept swinging at the best pitch, putting the ball in play, and it worked out the best for me today," said Heath.
In the series against the 49ers, Heath had seven hits and stole two bases in three attempts. The speedster leads the Raiders in stolen bases with 16 this season and has been productive out of the two hole with 15 runs scored, 29 hits, and a .333 batting average.
"Sydney had a great day for us as a catalyst to our offense," said Head Coach Jeff Breeden.
In the top of the second inning the Raiders took a, 3-2, lead on a Jocelynn De La Cruz single to center field, scoring Heath from third base.
After some miss ques by the Raider pitching staff, the game would be tied at, 4-4, in the sixth inning. Lexi Cushing had the respect of the 49ers' pitchers who intentionally walked her for the second time of the day, and loaded the bases for Kirstyn Cuccia. Cuccia would make Charlotte pay, by hitting a double off the wall in right center giving the Raiders a 6-4 lead.
The Raiders would add one more run in the top of the sixth on a Ryan King fielders choice to score Lani Rodriguez, stretching the lead to 7-4.
"Like I said yesterday, I think we answered them," said Breeden. "When they'd score some runs, we'd score some runs. When they answered. we'd answer. We kept punching. Our kids have a lot of fight in them, and that's all I'm asking for is a chance to win at the end."
The Raiders will travel to Martin, Tennessee on Wednesday, to face the Skyhawks of UT Martin. Middle Tennessee will resume C-USA play on Saturday beginning with a doubleheader against the University of Alabama Birmingham.
Follow all the action on Blue Raider social media: Twitter- MT_softball | Instagram- MT_softball | Facebook- Middle Tennessee Softball
| Middle Tennessee: 7, Charlotte 4 |
In the series finale, Heath had a career high four hits, in five at bats, and accounted for two Raider runs.
"I just kept swinging at the best pitch, putting the ball in play, and it worked out the best for me today," said Heath.
In the series against the 49ers, Heath had seven hits and stole two bases in three attempts. The speedster leads the Raiders in stolen bases with 16 this season and has been productive out of the two hole with 15 runs scored, 29 hits, and a .333 batting average.
"Sydney had a great day for us as a catalyst to our offense," said Head Coach Jeff Breeden.
In the top of the second inning the Raiders took a, 3-2, lead on a Jocelynn De La Cruz single to center field, scoring Heath from third base.
After some miss ques by the Raider pitching staff, the game would be tied at, 4-4, in the sixth inning. Lexi Cushing had the respect of the 49ers' pitchers who intentionally walked her for the second time of the day, and loaded the bases for Kirstyn Cuccia. Cuccia would make Charlotte pay, by hitting a double off the wall in right center giving the Raiders a 6-4 lead.
The Raiders would add one more run in the top of the sixth on a Ryan King fielders choice to score Lani Rodriguez, stretching the lead to 7-4.
"Like I said yesterday, I think we answered them," said Breeden. "When they'd score some runs, we'd score some runs. When they answered. we'd answer. We kept punching. Our kids have a lot of fight in them, and that's all I'm asking for is a chance to win at the end."
| News and Notes |
- Kirstyn Cuccia remains hot, recording 15 RBI's in the past eight games.
- Lexi Cushing hit two home runs in games one and two of the series against Charlotte, stretching her season total to 10.
- The Raiders have won seven of their last nine games.
| Next Up |
The Raiders will travel to Martin, Tennessee on Wednesday, to face the Skyhawks of UT Martin. Middle Tennessee will resume C-USA play on Saturday beginning with a doubleheader against the University of Alabama Birmingham.
| Social Media |
Follow all the action on Blue Raider social media: Twitter- MT_softball | Instagram- MT_softball | Facebook- Middle Tennessee Softball
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Baldwin, Amber (5-1)
L: RILEY, Lauren (3-2)
Batting:
2B: Heath, Sydney 1 ; Cuccia, Kirstyn 1
RBI: Burgess, Summer 1 ; De La Cruz, Jocelynn 1 ; Cuccia, Kirstyn 2 ; King, Ryan 1
SH: De La Cruz, Jocelynn 1 ; King, Ryan 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Burgess, Summer 1 ; Heath, Sydney 2 ; McClure, Brooke 1 ; McGee, Keely 1 ; Cushing, Lexi 1 ; Rodriguez, Lani 1
SB: Freeman, Savannah 1
CS: Heath, Sydney 1
HBP: McClure, Brooke 1 ; Cushing, Lexi 1
Batting:
2B: BERRIER, Kiersten 2
3B: GRAY, Spenser 1
HR: VANNOY, Bailey 1
RBI: VANNOY, Bailey 2 ; ROCHELLE, Imani 1
Base Running:
RUNS: GRAY, Spenser 1 ; OCKER, Emma 1 ; VANNOY, Bailey 1 ; HARRIS, Meredith 1
HBP: HARRIS, Meredith 1
Game Leaders
AB
5
R
2
H
4
RBI
0
AB
4
R
0
H
2
RBI
1
AB
4
R
0
H
2
RBI
0
AB
5
R
1
H
1
RBI
1
Players Mentioned
OF
/ Softball
1B
/ SoftballINF
/ SoftballINF/OF
/ Softball
INF
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