Raiders Survive Late Rally by UTEP

Wednesday, May 8

2:30 PM

Middle Tennessee

28-26

UTEP

17-33

UTEP

Middle Tennessee

5/8/2019 5:28:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

By: @MTAthletics

Birmingham, Ala.- The Middle Tennessee softball team survived a late rally by UTEP to advance to the second round of the C-USA Softball Tournament. The Raiders (28-26, C-USA 11-13) were led by superb pitching from freshmen Kailey Ahlstrom, as she struck out eight UTEP (17-33, C-USA 10-14) batters.

The game was highlighted by great back and fourth pitching from UTEP's Julia Wright and Raiders' starter Kailey Ahlstrom. The two hurlers began the game by trading goose eggs on the scoreboard for the first three innings.

The Raiders would strike first in the bottom of the fourth with a squeeze bunt from Brooke McClure that would plate Savanah Freeman and give the Raiders a 1-0 lead.

Ahlstrom held the Miners scoreless until the UTEP offense woke up and went for three hits in the top of the seventh inning. Three Raider error helped the Miners plate three runs and take a 3-1 lead.

The Raider kicked off the bottom of the seventh with back-to-back hits from Summer Burgess and Sydney Heath. With one out in the inning, Jocelynn De La Cruz blasted a triple over the right fielders head and scored both Raider runners, tying the game 3-3.

Lexi Cushing hit a deep fly ball to right field to bring in De La Cruz from third and give the Raider a 4-3 walk-off win.

Sydney Heath finished the game with four hits and a run scored. Ahlstrom picked up the win along with eight strikeouts.

The Raiders will advance to the second round to play WKU at 7:30 p.m. CT. The Raiders were swept by the Hilltoppers earlier this season in Murfreesboro. The series finale ended with a 11 inning barn burner, that WKU would go on to win 6-4.