Middle Tennessee State University Athletics
Blue Raider softball to play eight fall games
8/19/2019 3:00:00 PM | Softball, BRAA
Five games to be played at Blue Raider Softball Field
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — Middle Tennessee softball will prepare for the 2020 campaign with eight games this fall, including five home games at Blue Raider Softball Stadium.
The 2019 Blue Raiders wrapped up the season with an appearance in the National Invitational Softball Championship (NISC) against McNeese State and host team Stephen F. Austin after a 2-2 record in the Conference USA Championships.
At the plate, MT returns its statistical leader in batting average (Summer Burgess — .340), home runs (Lexi Cushing — 15), RBIs (Jocelynn De La Cruz — 34), on base percentage (Brooke McClure — .411) and stolen bases (Sydney Heath — 18).
Additionally, the trio of Amber Baldwin, Kailey Ahlstrom and Corrina Dodd all return to the circle for the Blue Raiders and are primed to be one of C-USA's top rotations in 2020. Baldwin led all MT pitchers in ERA last season (2.77), while Ahlstrom pitched the most innings (146.2) and Dodd collected the most wins (12).
"We want to see if our team retains what we built on last year. We're looking to see if our returning kids are going to become good leaders," Head Coach Jeff Breeden said.
"We're also looking to see what our new pitchers and hitters have got, and they know everybody has a shot at winning a starting spot."
The 2019 fall slate opens with two games at the Columbia State Tournament on Sept. 15, followed by home games against Snead State (Sept. 21), Columbia State (Sept. 22), Vol State (Sept. 25), Trevecca (Sept. 28) and Carson Newman (Oct. 6). MT then wraps up the fall at Tennessee on Oct. 11.
Snead State posted a record of 21-36 in the spring, while Columbia State and Vol State both advanced to the NJCAA Region VII Tournament last season. Trevecca fell twice in the Great Midwest Championships to end the season at 31-16, while Carson Newman finished 2019 with a 29-12 record.
Tennessee closed out their season in the NCAA Super Regional, falling to No. 5 Florida in a best of three series. In March, the Blue Raiders battled with Tennessee for four innings before the Lady Vols scored four runs in the fifth inning on their way to an 8-0 win in the Midstate Classic.
"The Tennessee game for us is a test run for what it'll be like against Conference USA teams, and it's a good measuring stick for where we are. We're also opening our home spring schedule with Kentucky, so the Tennessee game will really help us prepare for the spring," Breeden added.
Prior to the fall schedule getting underway, MT softball will host camps on Aug. 31 and Sept. 1. Blue Raider fans will then have the opportunity to interact with their favorite former and current MT softball players at the Inaugural Alumni Day on Sept. 14.
The 2019 Blue Raiders wrapped up the season with an appearance in the National Invitational Softball Championship (NISC) against McNeese State and host team Stephen F. Austin after a 2-2 record in the Conference USA Championships.
At the plate, MT returns its statistical leader in batting average (Summer Burgess — .340), home runs (Lexi Cushing — 15), RBIs (Jocelynn De La Cruz — 34), on base percentage (Brooke McClure — .411) and stolen bases (Sydney Heath — 18).
Additionally, the trio of Amber Baldwin, Kailey Ahlstrom and Corrina Dodd all return to the circle for the Blue Raiders and are primed to be one of C-USA's top rotations in 2020. Baldwin led all MT pitchers in ERA last season (2.77), while Ahlstrom pitched the most innings (146.2) and Dodd collected the most wins (12).
"We want to see if our team retains what we built on last year. We're looking to see if our returning kids are going to become good leaders," Head Coach Jeff Breeden said.
"We're also looking to see what our new pitchers and hitters have got, and they know everybody has a shot at winning a starting spot."
The 2019 fall slate opens with two games at the Columbia State Tournament on Sept. 15, followed by home games against Snead State (Sept. 21), Columbia State (Sept. 22), Vol State (Sept. 25), Trevecca (Sept. 28) and Carson Newman (Oct. 6). MT then wraps up the fall at Tennessee on Oct. 11.
Snead State posted a record of 21-36 in the spring, while Columbia State and Vol State both advanced to the NJCAA Region VII Tournament last season. Trevecca fell twice in the Great Midwest Championships to end the season at 31-16, while Carson Newman finished 2019 with a 29-12 record.
Tennessee closed out their season in the NCAA Super Regional, falling to No. 5 Florida in a best of three series. In March, the Blue Raiders battled with Tennessee for four innings before the Lady Vols scored four runs in the fifth inning on their way to an 8-0 win in the Midstate Classic.
"The Tennessee game for us is a test run for what it'll be like against Conference USA teams, and it's a good measuring stick for where we are. We're also opening our home spring schedule with Kentucky, so the Tennessee game will really help us prepare for the spring," Breeden added.
Prior to the fall schedule getting underway, MT softball will host camps on Aug. 31 and Sept. 1. Blue Raider fans will then have the opportunity to interact with their favorite former and current MT softball players at the Inaugural Alumni Day on Sept. 14.
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