Middle Tennessee State University Athletics
Depth key for Raiders in the circle
1/31/2020 11:00:00 AM | Softball
This is the first in a two-part series previewing the 2020 Middle Tennessee softball team before its first game Feb. 6. Look for part 2 on the Blue Raiders' fielders/hitters on Monday.
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — As opening day rapidly approaches, the Middle Tennessee softball team is in a bit of a unique situation.
For most teams around the nation at this point in the season, they're pointing to one, at the most two, arms to dominate in the circle, such as in 2018 when MT leaned on Cori Jennings and Amber Baldwin to throw nearly 80% of its innings en route to a Conference USA title.
While Baldwin is back as a junior leader this season and is ready to show she's healthy after missing much of 2019 with an arm injury, she'll be just one of a handful of pitchers who could see significant innings. That rotation could prove important midway through the season when the conference slate hits, since this year Conference USA is changing to a three-day weekend series instead of playing a doubleheader Saturday and one game on Sunday, as in years past.
"The conference season will be a little different this year, and you could see a Friday starter come back on a Sunday or save another game in the weekend … so it'll change some things on the mound, for sure," Middle Tennessee head coach Jeff Breeden said. "I think it'll take us a couple of conference series to get used to it … but hopefully we're rolling right along come then."
If there's an ace on the staff, Baldwin looks to be the frontrunner in the preseason.
After a freshman year where she was the Raiders' No. 2 arm behind Jennings, the right-hander appeared in 15 games a season ago before missing the remainder. The California native went 5-1 on the year, ending with a 2.77 ERA and 44 strikeouts while registering four complete games, three shutouts.
"I'm the oldest on the staff, so I'm trying to be more of a leader this year," Baldwin said. "I've gotten a lot more mature the last couple of years, and last year helped me see things in kind of a different way. My outlook is a lot different."
When Baldwin exited last season, two freshmen were called upon to take the majority of the innings in the circle.
Southpaw Kailey Ahlstrom made a team-high 23 starts, finishing 11-12 with a 3.16 ERA in 146.2 innings. She led the team with 97 strikeouts and 12 complete games.
Corinna Dodd, a righty, made 16 starts, finishing with a 12-9 record after throwing 139.2 innings with a 3.81 ERA. She led MT in wins, appearances (35) and opponent batting average (.260) while throwing eight complete games.
Now as sophomores, Ahlstrom and Dodd will be outstanding compliments to Baldwin, as well as Juliana Lane, a heralded left-handed freshman from San Diego who Breeden said has some of the best movement on the team. She had a big fall season, leading the team in ERA (1.08) and opponent batting average (.114) while appearing in six of the seven games. Blue Raider fans will also see sophomore Gretchen Mead and Cal State Fullerton transfer Mia Marinakis take the circle in 2020.
"I think having that many girls who can step onto the mound at any time helps us all out, in a way, because we don't have to put pressure on one pitcher," Baldwin said. "We're all so different that it changes things up from the other team's point of view."
As the season gets started, the Blue Raiders have confidence knowing they have a number of pitchers that can step into the circle at any point in the game and against any opponent.
It's quite a unique situation to be in, and one Breeden is blessed to have.
"Having as many arms as we do, we should be able to go through the season healthy, hopefully, and nobody getting fatigued as we go," he said. "I think we have several kids who can throw … and that could give us some added days rest for some of our girls."
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — As opening day rapidly approaches, the Middle Tennessee softball team is in a bit of a unique situation.
For most teams around the nation at this point in the season, they're pointing to one, at the most two, arms to dominate in the circle, such as in 2018 when MT leaned on Cori Jennings and Amber Baldwin to throw nearly 80% of its innings en route to a Conference USA title.
While Baldwin is back as a junior leader this season and is ready to show she's healthy after missing much of 2019 with an arm injury, she'll be just one of a handful of pitchers who could see significant innings. That rotation could prove important midway through the season when the conference slate hits, since this year Conference USA is changing to a three-day weekend series instead of playing a doubleheader Saturday and one game on Sunday, as in years past.
"The conference season will be a little different this year, and you could see a Friday starter come back on a Sunday or save another game in the weekend … so it'll change some things on the mound, for sure," Middle Tennessee head coach Jeff Breeden said. "I think it'll take us a couple of conference series to get used to it … but hopefully we're rolling right along come then."
If there's an ace on the staff, Baldwin looks to be the frontrunner in the preseason.
After a freshman year where she was the Raiders' No. 2 arm behind Jennings, the right-hander appeared in 15 games a season ago before missing the remainder. The California native went 5-1 on the year, ending with a 2.77 ERA and 44 strikeouts while registering four complete games, three shutouts.
"I'm the oldest on the staff, so I'm trying to be more of a leader this year," Baldwin said. "I've gotten a lot more mature the last couple of years, and last year helped me see things in kind of a different way. My outlook is a lot different."
When Baldwin exited last season, two freshmen were called upon to take the majority of the innings in the circle.
Southpaw Kailey Ahlstrom made a team-high 23 starts, finishing 11-12 with a 3.16 ERA in 146.2 innings. She led the team with 97 strikeouts and 12 complete games.
Corinna Dodd, a righty, made 16 starts, finishing with a 12-9 record after throwing 139.2 innings with a 3.81 ERA. She led MT in wins, appearances (35) and opponent batting average (.260) while throwing eight complete games.
Now as sophomores, Ahlstrom and Dodd will be outstanding compliments to Baldwin, as well as Juliana Lane, a heralded left-handed freshman from San Diego who Breeden said has some of the best movement on the team. She had a big fall season, leading the team in ERA (1.08) and opponent batting average (.114) while appearing in six of the seven games. Blue Raider fans will also see sophomore Gretchen Mead and Cal State Fullerton transfer Mia Marinakis take the circle in 2020.
"I think having that many girls who can step onto the mound at any time helps us all out, in a way, because we don't have to put pressure on one pitcher," Baldwin said. "We're all so different that it changes things up from the other team's point of view."
As the season gets started, the Blue Raiders have confidence knowing they have a number of pitchers that can step into the circle at any point in the game and against any opponent.
It's quite a unique situation to be in, and one Breeden is blessed to have.
"Having as many arms as we do, we should be able to go through the season healthy, hopefully, and nobody getting fatigued as we go," he said. "I think we have several kids who can throw … and that could give us some added days rest for some of our girls."
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