Middle Tennessee State University Athletics
Friday, April 5
Murfreesboro, TN.
6:00 PM
Middle Tennessee
11-18, 0
13
vs
4
WKU
14-13-1, 0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
R
H
E
Western Ky.
2
0
1
0
1
0
0
0
0
4
13
0
Middle Tennessee
4
2
0
0
2
0
0
5
X
13
12
1
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Lester, Carson (1-3)
L: Eric Crawford (1-3)
Batting:
2B: Ray Zuberer III 1 ; Jack Wilson 1
RBI: Ray Zuberer III 1 ; Dillon Nelson 1 ; Matt Phipps 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Richard Constantine 1 ; Jake Sanford 1 ; Jack Wilson 1 ; Jackson Swiney 1
HBP: Richard Constantine 1
Batting:
2B: Antonini, Aaron 1 ; Benefield, Blake 1
3B: Prewett, Darien 1
HR: Christian, Myles 3
RBI: Huff, Drew 2 ; Antonini, Aaron 1 ; Christian, Myles 7 ; Benefield, Blake 2 ; Carnevale, Nick 1
SF: Huff, Drew 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Prewett, Darien 3 ; Huff, Drew 2 ; Antonini, Aaron 2 ; Christian, Myles 4 ; Benefield, Blake 1 ; Freeman Jr., Darrell 1
SB: Christian, Myles 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
5
R
4
H
4
RBI
7
AB
4
R
3
H
2
RBI
0
AB
4
R
0
H
2
RBI
1
Players Mentioned
OF
/ BaseballOF
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
MTSU outslugs rival Hilltoppers in 13-4 win
4/5/2019 9:40:00 PM | Baseball
Murfreesboro, Tenn.— Middle Tennessee starter Carson Lester came back to the dugout and shook his head. He worked out of a bases-loaded jam to end the game's opening frame, but surrendered two runs in the process. The Blue Raiders were staring an early deficit in the face for the second time this week, Once again MTSU laughed at the face of the deficit that was staring them down, exploding for six runs in the game's first two innings to defeat the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers 13-4.
"We showed some resiliency tonight," said Head Coach Jim Toman. "Carson Lester gave us a chance to win. Myles (Christian) has been swinging it a lot better and was seeing it good tonight. It was good to get Darrien (Prewett) back. I thought he looked refreshed and he was able to get a few hits tonight."
Darrien Prewett led off the first inning with a single, and it was all fireworks from there. A pair of RBI singles from Drew Huff and Myles Christian tied the game up when five-hole hitter Blake Benefield stepped into the box. Western Kentucky starter Eric Crawford hung Benefield a first-pitch curveball, and the Murfreesboro native turned on it for an RBI double down the line in left to give MTSU the lead.
The offensive onslaught peaked in the eighth inning, however, when shortstop Myles Christian smashed a two-out grand slam over the trees in right field to give MTSU an 13-4 lead. It was Christian's third home run of the night, making him the first Blue Raider to accomplish that feat since Ethan Williams did it in 2012.
"I've been struggling lately, so (today) felt pretty special to me," Christian said. "I've been doing more and more in the cages to try and get my swing back right like it was in the summer."
After getting off to a slow start this season, Christian is starting to heat up along with the springtime weather. After scorching Western for four hits, seven RBIs and a stolen base on the night, it propelled Christian's average to .375 with six home runs and 13 RBIs over his past seven games.
Christian's second career multi home run game helped MTSU continue its' power surge. Over the past week, Middle has slugged eight home runs. Since the beginning of conference play, Middle's 14 home runs lead Conference USA.
On the mound, Carson Lester earned his first win of the season. David Zoz and Scheldon Paulk combined to shut out the Hilltoppers over the final four innings of the night.
"We're short a few guys right now, so we gotta keep hitting the ball like we have been," said Christian. "The meat of the lineup's gotta keep producing and do its' part so we can keep winning ballgames."
What's next?
Game two of the three-game home set against Western continues tomorrow afternoon at 4:00 p.m.
Anthony Fiorella is a student writer for goblueraiders.com. Follow him on Twitter @a_fiorella74 and also follow @MTAthletics for more on the Blue Raiders.
"We showed some resiliency tonight," said Head Coach Jim Toman. "Carson Lester gave us a chance to win. Myles (Christian) has been swinging it a lot better and was seeing it good tonight. It was good to get Darrien (Prewett) back. I thought he looked refreshed and he was able to get a few hits tonight."
Darrien Prewett led off the first inning with a single, and it was all fireworks from there. A pair of RBI singles from Drew Huff and Myles Christian tied the game up when five-hole hitter Blake Benefield stepped into the box. Western Kentucky starter Eric Crawford hung Benefield a first-pitch curveball, and the Murfreesboro native turned on it for an RBI double down the line in left to give MTSU the lead.
The offensive onslaught peaked in the eighth inning, however, when shortstop Myles Christian smashed a two-out grand slam over the trees in right field to give MTSU an 13-4 lead. It was Christian's third home run of the night, making him the first Blue Raider to accomplish that feat since Ethan Williams did it in 2012.
"I've been struggling lately, so (today) felt pretty special to me," Christian said. "I've been doing more and more in the cages to try and get my swing back right like it was in the summer."
After getting off to a slow start this season, Christian is starting to heat up along with the springtime weather. After scorching Western for four hits, seven RBIs and a stolen base on the night, it propelled Christian's average to .375 with six home runs and 13 RBIs over his past seven games.
Christian's second career multi home run game helped MTSU continue its' power surge. Over the past week, Middle has slugged eight home runs. Since the beginning of conference play, Middle's 14 home runs lead Conference USA.
On the mound, Carson Lester earned his first win of the season. David Zoz and Scheldon Paulk combined to shut out the Hilltoppers over the final four innings of the night.
"We're short a few guys right now, so we gotta keep hitting the ball like we have been," said Christian. "The meat of the lineup's gotta keep producing and do its' part so we can keep winning ballgames."
What's next?
Game two of the three-game home set against Western continues tomorrow afternoon at 4:00 p.m.
Anthony Fiorella is a student writer for goblueraiders.com. Follow him on Twitter @a_fiorella74 and also follow @MTAthletics for more on the Blue Raiders.
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