Raiders Win With Second Straight Shutout

Friday, February 21

Murfreesboro, TN

3 PM

Middle Tennessee

2-3

Evansville

0-5

Evansville

Middle Tennessee

2/21/2020 5:59:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

By: Josh Vardaman

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — Home cooking has been good for Middle Tennessee so far on the young season.

The Blue Raiders (2-3) got their first win of the year in one-hit shutout fashion against Bradley Thursday, then followed with their second scoreless outing in as many days Friday with Evansville (0-5) visiting, 6-0. They've now held opponents scoreless in 22 straight innings.

"We beat a good pitcher today and a good team," Middle Tennessee head coach Jim Toman said. "It was a good win for us."

Junior Aaron Brown took the mound for MT looking to build on a solid first outing of the season a week prior.

He tossed six innings, getting out of jams in the first and third innings by stranding six batters while striking out seven and walking two. He hasn't allowed an earned run in two starts this season.

"Aaron really pitched well in the fall and in the spring, and he was really good at Chapel Hill last week … all of his runs were unearned," Toman said. "He wasn't quite himself early … but he settled in really good."

Senior southpaw David Zoz replaced Brown in the seventh inning, striking out five and walking one in two innings of work, and redshirt junior Hunter Sullivan made his MT debut to close out the ninth without issue.

Middle Tennessee's arms held the Aces to four hits, only one for extra bases.

While the men on the mound held Evansville at bay, the Blue Raiders' lineup went to work.

A big bottom of the third got the scoring started, as MT plated four runs on three hits. Freshman Jacob Williams (two) and junior Cole Escher drove in the first RBIs of their Blue Raider careers, and redshirt junior Peter Brown also singled one in.

Two more runs in the bottom of the sixth came on singles by juniors DJ Wright and Brycen Thomas, giving Middle Tennessee plenty of cushion.

The Raiders had 15 different players come to bat. Getting looks for as many guys as possible this early in the season is an emphasis for Toman.

"We have a lot more position players to choose from this year," he said. "The more some of our guys get out there, the better they'll be. We're trying to get everyone some at-bats … it's a good problem to have."

The SAF Classic will continue Saturday for the Blue Raiders with Samford visiting Reese Smith Jr. Field.

Junior left-hander Peyton Wigginton is scheduled to be on the bump for the Blue Raiders. He threw 7.2 innings against No. 13 North Carolina a week ago, giving up only one run while striking out five.

Middle Tennessee's starters have a combined 1.49 ERA this season, and Toman is hoping for more good things from Wigginton Saturday. First pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m.

"We'll get a scout against Samford tonight and just play as hard as we can," he said. "It'll be a little warmer out here tomorrow, so maybe we can get some more fans out here in the nice weather. It should be a good game."