Middle Tennesee State University Athletics
Sunday, April 7
Murfreesboro, TN.
1:00 PM
Middle Tennessee
13-18, 0
11
vs
4
WKU
14-15-1, 0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
R
H
E
WKU
0
1
0
0
0
0
3
0
0
4
12
0
Middle Tennessee
0
3
3
3
0
0
0
2
X
11
18
4
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Keenan, Zach (2-4)
L: Dalton Shoemake (2-2)
Batting:
2B: Richard Constantine 1 ; Jackson Swiney 1 ; Kevin Lambert 1
RBI: Dillon Nelson 2 ; Kevin Lambert 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Aidan Elias 1 ; Richard Constantine 1 ; Jake Sanford 1 ; Jackson Swiney 1
PO: Ray Zuberer III 1
Batting:
2B: Christian, Myles 1
3B: Freeman Jr., Darrell 1
HR: Antonini, Aaron 1 ; Benefield, Blake 2 ; Thomas, Brycen 1
RBI: Antonini, Aaron 3 ; Benefield, Blake 5 ; Wigginton, Peyton 2 ; Thomas, Brycen 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Prewett, Darien 1 ; Huff, Drew 1 ; Parker, Tanner 1 ; Antonini, Aaron 2 ; Christian, Myles 3 ; Benefield, Blake 2 ; Thomas, Brycen 1
SB: Christian, Myles 1
HBP: Huff, Drew 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
5
R
3
H
4
RBI
0
AB
5
R
2
H
3
RBI
5
AB
5
R
1
H
2
RBI
0
AB
5
R
2
H
2
RBI
3
Players Mentioned
C
/ BaseballOF
/ BaseballOF
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
RHP/IF
/ Baseball
RHP
/ BaseballMiddle Tennessee matches season-high four home runs to defeat Western Kentucky 11-4
4/7/2019 4:40:00 PM | Baseball
Murfreesboro, Tenn.— Blake Benefield came to the park Sunday with a smile on his face. The senior had good reason to, being just a day removed from hitting his 25th career home run and helping his team clinch the series against the rival Western Kentucky Hilltoppers.
After Myles Christian doubled to start the Blue Raiders half of the second, it was Benefield's turn to have a crack at Western Kentucky starter Dalton Shomake. With the wind hitting him in the back, Benefield lifted a fly ball to right field. His sprint down the first-base line turned into a trot as the ball carried over the wall for his second home run of the series.
The MTSU right fielder wasn't done quite yet, however, as he would hit another one over the royal-blue wall at Reese Smith Field in his following trip to the plate. His third-inning three-run home run bomb gave Middle Tennessee (13-18, 7-5) a 6-1 lead in which they would turn into an 11-4 victory to complete the sweep over Western Kentucky (14-15-1, 7-4-1).
"We had a plan and worked hard," Benefield said. "It's always good to sweep anybody, especially when it helps your conference record. It was a good weekend to have."
Benefield wasn't the only one to join the home run parade. First baseman Brycen Thomas and catcher Aaron Antonini both left the yard. For Thomas, it was his second home run of the season. Antonini's three-run home run homer extended his hitting streak to 15 games and extended the Blue Raider lead to 9-1 heading into the fifth inning.
It was the biggest weekend of the year, offensively, for Middle Tennessee. The Blue Raiders amassed a total of 37 runs on 43 hits, including nine home runs as a unit.
"(Getting the sweep) was big," said MTSU Head Coach Jim Toman. "(Western Kentucky) is a good team. They were 7-1-1 coming in. We swung it well again today, getting 18 hits. Coach (Blake) Hunt has been working with the guys on attacking the fastball. I'm excited and proud for the guys."
On the mound, MTSU did arguably its' best job of the weekend behind starter Zach Keenan's 6.1-inning outing. Keenan collected his second win of the season, allowing just two earned runs while striking out six Hilltoppers on the afternoon. He was relieved with one out in the seventh inning by Josh Young, who allowed just two hits over the final 2.2 innings.
"(Zach) Keenan pitched really well," Toman said. "We didn't walk anyone all day and had 8 k's. Josh Young was really good for us too."
After completing the first season-sweep of the year, the Blue Raiders also extended their season-high win streak to four games heading into their next game with Vanderbilt.
What's Next?
Middle Tennessee welcomes the fifth ranked Vanderbilt Commodores to the confines of Reese Smith Jr. Field this coming Tuesday at 6:00 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.
After Myles Christian doubled to start the Blue Raiders half of the second, it was Benefield's turn to have a crack at Western Kentucky starter Dalton Shomake. With the wind hitting him in the back, Benefield lifted a fly ball to right field. His sprint down the first-base line turned into a trot as the ball carried over the wall for his second home run of the series.
The MTSU right fielder wasn't done quite yet, however, as he would hit another one over the royal-blue wall at Reese Smith Field in his following trip to the plate. His third-inning three-run home run bomb gave Middle Tennessee (13-18, 7-5) a 6-1 lead in which they would turn into an 11-4 victory to complete the sweep over Western Kentucky (14-15-1, 7-4-1).
"We had a plan and worked hard," Benefield said. "It's always good to sweep anybody, especially when it helps your conference record. It was a good weekend to have."
Benefield wasn't the only one to join the home run parade. First baseman Brycen Thomas and catcher Aaron Antonini both left the yard. For Thomas, it was his second home run of the season. Antonini's three-run home run homer extended his hitting streak to 15 games and extended the Blue Raider lead to 9-1 heading into the fifth inning.
It was the biggest weekend of the year, offensively, for Middle Tennessee. The Blue Raiders amassed a total of 37 runs on 43 hits, including nine home runs as a unit.
"(Getting the sweep) was big," said MTSU Head Coach Jim Toman. "(Western Kentucky) is a good team. They were 7-1-1 coming in. We swung it well again today, getting 18 hits. Coach (Blake) Hunt has been working with the guys on attacking the fastball. I'm excited and proud for the guys."
On the mound, MTSU did arguably its' best job of the weekend behind starter Zach Keenan's 6.1-inning outing. Keenan collected his second win of the season, allowing just two earned runs while striking out six Hilltoppers on the afternoon. He was relieved with one out in the seventh inning by Josh Young, who allowed just two hits over the final 2.2 innings.
"(Zach) Keenan pitched really well," Toman said. "We didn't walk anyone all day and had 8 k's. Josh Young was really good for us too."
After completing the first season-sweep of the year, the Blue Raiders also extended their season-high win streak to four games heading into their next game with Vanderbilt.
What's Next?
Middle Tennessee welcomes the fifth ranked Vanderbilt Commodores to the confines of Reese Smith Jr. Field this coming Tuesday at 6:00 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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