Middle Tennessee State University Athletics
Wednesday, September 25
Murfreesboro, TN
5:00 PM
Middle Tennessee
16
vs
4
Volunteer State Community College
Raiders roll over Vol State in fifth fall game
9/25/2019 8:29:00 PM | Softball
MURFREESBORO, Tenn.— Middle Tennessee's offense picked up where it left off over the weekend, as the Blue Raider softball team scored 16 runs on 16 hits in Wednesday's 10-inning win over Volunteer State.
The Pioneers got on the board first in the second inning, but the lead was short lived. Jocelynn De La Cruz's offensive hot streak continued with a leadoff home run to center field, and the Blue Raiders tacked on a second run in the bottom of the second to take a 2-1 lead.
Four more runs on four hits in the third inning helped the Blue Raiders pull away from Vol State early. The Pioneers would get a run back in the fifth and score two more in the seventh, but the MT offense scored at least one run in all but one inning after that third inning barrage, leading to a 16-4 final score.
Samantha Valentine was the only Blue Raider with three hits, and the redshirt senior also scored twice. Savannah Freeman's speed was also on full display Wednesday night, as she scored six times and made a diving catch to save two runs while playing right field.
"Samantha and Savannah both are doing a great job of putting pressure on our opponent's defense," MT Head Coach Jeff Breeden said. "After last year, [Savannah] being 16-for-16 on stolen bases, we're trying to get her more of an opportunity to get in the game.
"Speed kills, and we've got that throughout the lineup."
Gretchen Mead and Mia Marinakis pitched three innings apiece, each giving up one run. Corrina Dodd pitched the seventh and eighth innings, striking out two. Freshman Juliana Lane pitched in her fifth fall game and continued to lower her ERA, pitching two scoreless innings and facing only seven batters.
"[Juliana] is stoic and has a great demeanor in the circle, and she has a presence. As we go along, we'll be counting on her to do something for us," Breeden added. "We're deep at every position, but we're really deep in our pitching when everyone is healthy."
MT hosts Trevecca Saturday at 2 p.m. for game six of eight in the fall season.
Follow the Blue Raiders on Twitter (@MT_Softball), Facebook (Middle Tennessee Blue Raider Softball) and Instagram (@mt_softball).
The Pioneers got on the board first in the second inning, but the lead was short lived. Jocelynn De La Cruz's offensive hot streak continued with a leadoff home run to center field, and the Blue Raiders tacked on a second run in the bottom of the second to take a 2-1 lead.
Four more runs on four hits in the third inning helped the Blue Raiders pull away from Vol State early. The Pioneers would get a run back in the fifth and score two more in the seventh, but the MT offense scored at least one run in all but one inning after that third inning barrage, leading to a 16-4 final score.
Samantha Valentine was the only Blue Raider with three hits, and the redshirt senior also scored twice. Savannah Freeman's speed was also on full display Wednesday night, as she scored six times and made a diving catch to save two runs while playing right field.
"Samantha and Savannah both are doing a great job of putting pressure on our opponent's defense," MT Head Coach Jeff Breeden said. "After last year, [Savannah] being 16-for-16 on stolen bases, we're trying to get her more of an opportunity to get in the game.
"Speed kills, and we've got that throughout the lineup."
Gretchen Mead and Mia Marinakis pitched three innings apiece, each giving up one run. Corrina Dodd pitched the seventh and eighth innings, striking out two. Freshman Juliana Lane pitched in her fifth fall game and continued to lower her ERA, pitching two scoreless innings and facing only seven batters.
"[Juliana] is stoic and has a great demeanor in the circle, and she has a presence. As we go along, we'll be counting on her to do something for us," Breeden added. "We're deep at every position, but we're really deep in our pitching when everyone is healthy."
MT hosts Trevecca Saturday at 2 p.m. for game six of eight in the fall season.
Follow the Blue Raiders on Twitter (@MT_Softball), Facebook (Middle Tennessee Blue Raider Softball) and Instagram (@mt_softball).
Players Mentioned
3B
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
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P/1B
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P
/ Softball
2B
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