Middle Tennessee State University Athletics
Friday, May 10
Murfreesboro, TN.
4:30 PM
Middle Tennessee
18-31, 0
3
vs
1
FIU
20-29, 0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
R
H
E
FIU
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
1
6
1
Middle Tennessee
0
0
1
0
2
0
0
0
X
3
6
0
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Keenan, Zach (4-4)
L: Allen, Logan (4-5)
S: Zoz, David (2)
Batting:
2B: Shenton, Austin 1
RBI: Teixeira, Juan 1
SH: Rog, Kaeber 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Shenton, Austin 1
SB: Ford, Jarrett 1
Batting:
2B: Freeman Jr., Darrell 1
RBI: Freeman Jr., Darrell 3
SH: Carnevale, Nick 1
SF: Freeman Jr., Darrell 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Benefield, Blake 1 ; Stratinsky, Brett 1 ; Carnevale, Nick 1
SB: Christian, Myles 1
CS: Carnevale, Nick 1
HBP: Stratinsky, Brett 1
Game Leaders
AB
3
R
1
H
2
RBI
0
AB
4
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
3
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
2
R
1
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
OF
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
Keenan’s gem, Freeman’s RBIs give MT win
5/10/2019 7:30:00 PM | Baseball
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – Needing as many wins as it can get to stay in postseason contention, Middle Tennessee notched one in the right column Friday in the first of a three-game series against FIU.
With the game moved up two hours because of a worrisome weather forecast, the Blue Raiders utilized a stellar pitching performance and timely hits in a 3-1 win.
"Any win you get right now is great, as beat up as we are," MT head coach Jim Toman said. "I'm just proud of the guys. It's been a long season … and they're still fighting."
Middle Tennessee (18-31, 11-14) went into the night a half game behind UTSA for eighth in the Conference USA standings, while FIU (20-29, 9-16) was two places lower. The top eight teams make the conference tournament.
When it desperately needed a good outing from its starter to keep postseason dreams alive, MT was granted a gem by sophomore Zach Keenan.
The right-hander scattered six hits over a career-high eight innings, allowing only a single run while walking two and striking out four. Only one hit went for extra bases, a one-out double that turned into the Panthers' only run in the fourth inning.
Keenan's win makes him 4-4 on the season.
"I kind of struggled in my last outing, so this was just a big confidence booster for me and the guys," he said. "We're right there on the line for making the conference tournament … and that's awesome, especially for the seniors."
As Keenan kept the visitors guessing at the plate, the Blue Raiders got timely hitting from a senior.
In the third inning with the game still scoreless, MT left fielder Darrell Freeman Jr. delivered a sac fly to give the home team its first lead. Then, after the Panthers responded to retie it, the Brentwood, Tennessee native smacked a double off the left field fence to score two more.
When all was said and done, he was 1-for-2 with all three of the Blue Raiders' RBIs.
"That was a heck of a day for Mr. Freeman," Toman said. "Tomorrow, we hope he has four RBIs."
Middle Tennessee ended with six hits, and all of its runs came against FIU starter Logan Allen, who went into the night second in C-USA with 101 strikeouts and fourth with a 3.21 ERA. He took the loss.
The Blue Raiders will try to have similar success Saturday in the second game of the series, which will also serve as senior day. First pitch is scheduled for 4 p.m., but it may be moved up due to projected rain.
"All we need to do is bring the same energy in the last two games of the series," Keenan said.
Josh Vardaman is the staff writer for goblueraiders.com. Follow him on Twitter @J_Vardaman and also follow @MTAthletics for more on the Blue Raiders.
With the game moved up two hours because of a worrisome weather forecast, the Blue Raiders utilized a stellar pitching performance and timely hits in a 3-1 win.
"Any win you get right now is great, as beat up as we are," MT head coach Jim Toman said. "I'm just proud of the guys. It's been a long season … and they're still fighting."
Middle Tennessee (18-31, 11-14) went into the night a half game behind UTSA for eighth in the Conference USA standings, while FIU (20-29, 9-16) was two places lower. The top eight teams make the conference tournament.
When it desperately needed a good outing from its starter to keep postseason dreams alive, MT was granted a gem by sophomore Zach Keenan.
The right-hander scattered six hits over a career-high eight innings, allowing only a single run while walking two and striking out four. Only one hit went for extra bases, a one-out double that turned into the Panthers' only run in the fourth inning.
Keenan's win makes him 4-4 on the season.
"I kind of struggled in my last outing, so this was just a big confidence booster for me and the guys," he said. "We're right there on the line for making the conference tournament … and that's awesome, especially for the seniors."
As Keenan kept the visitors guessing at the plate, the Blue Raiders got timely hitting from a senior.
In the third inning with the game still scoreless, MT left fielder Darrell Freeman Jr. delivered a sac fly to give the home team its first lead. Then, after the Panthers responded to retie it, the Brentwood, Tennessee native smacked a double off the left field fence to score two more.
When all was said and done, he was 1-for-2 with all three of the Blue Raiders' RBIs.
"That was a heck of a day for Mr. Freeman," Toman said. "Tomorrow, we hope he has four RBIs."
Middle Tennessee ended with six hits, and all of its runs came against FIU starter Logan Allen, who went into the night second in C-USA with 101 strikeouts and fourth with a 3.21 ERA. He took the loss.
The Blue Raiders will try to have similar success Saturday in the second game of the series, which will also serve as senior day. First pitch is scheduled for 4 p.m., but it may be moved up due to projected rain.
"All we need to do is bring the same energy in the last two games of the series," Keenan said.
Josh Vardaman is the staff writer for goblueraiders.com. Follow him on Twitter @J_Vardaman and also follow @MTAthletics for more on the Blue Raiders.
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