Middle Tennessee State University Athletics
Sunday, February 9
Fullerton, CA
12:00 PM CST
Middle Tennessee
3-3
4
vs
2
Pacific
3-1
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
R
H
E
Pacific
0
0
0
2
0
0
0
2
2
2
Middle Tennessee
0
1
1
1
0
1
X
4
5
0
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Marinakis, Mia (1-1)
L: STRONG, Vanessa (0-1)
Batting:
RBI: ESTRADA, Ralene 1 ; KOOYMAN, Bradi 1
SH: WACHHOLTZ, Megan 1
Base Running:
RUNS: WACHHOLTZ, Megan 1 ; LUCCHETTI, Carly 1
HBP: WACHHOLTZ, Megan 1 ; KOOYMAN, Bradi 1
Batting:
2B: Rodriguez, Lani 1 ; Hill, Kelci 1
HR: Cushing, Lexi 1
RBI: Marinakis, Mia 1 ; Cushing, Lexi 1 ; Smith, Claire 1 ; Hill, Kelci 1
SH: Heath, Sydney 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Burgess, Summer 1 ; Cushing, Lexi 1 ; Freeman, Savannah 1 ; Rodriguez, Lani 1
SB: Burgess, Summer 1 ; Freeman, Savannah 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
3
R
1
H
2
RBI
1
AB
3
R
0
H
1
RBI
1
AB
2
R
1
H
1
RBI
0
AB
3
R
0
H
1
RBI
1
Players Mentioned
SS
/ Softball1B
/ Softball
OF
/ SoftballOF
/ Softball2B/3B
/ SoftballOF/2B
/ Softball
Raiders win rain-soaked weekend finale
2/9/2020 2:54:00 PM | Softball
FULLERTON, Calif. — Middle Tennessee softball wrapped up the first tournament of the 2020 non-conference slate on Sunday with more late heroics both at the plate and in the circle.
MIDDLE TENNESSEE 4, PACIFIC 2
» Pacific took an undefeated record into the final game of opening weekend, defeating UC Riverside, Utah State and Titan Classic host Cal State Fullerton.
» Lexi Cushing opened Sunday's scoring in the second inning with her third home run of the weekend. All three home runs were leadoff homers.
» The Blue Raiders cashed in on a Tiger error in the third inning to tack on its second run of the game, which Summer Burgess scored.
» The rain then picked up in the top of the fourth, leading to two walks and two Pacific batters hit by a pitch. The Tigers scored two runs in the inning to tie the game.
» Lani Rodriguez and Kelci Hill delivered clutch two-out doubles in back-to-back at bats to help MT regain the lead, which it kept for the remainder of the game.
» After Cushing led off the bottom of the sixth with a single, Claire Smith singled down the left field line to score a pinch-running Savannah Freeman.
QUOTES FROM THE BLUE RAIDERS
» Head Coach Jeff Breeden on the outcome of this weekend's Titan Classic: "We chose a tough tournament to play in to see what we had in the first weekend. If a break goes our way yesterday, we might could've come out of this thing 5-1. I really like where our team is right now. We've had a lot of people step up, and our pitching has gotten better as the weekend went on. Since I've been here, we've not had a 3-4-5-6 [in the lineup] with the potential for power numbers, so I think we'll be fine."
» Coach Breeden on senior Lexi Cushing's weekend at the plate: "She's getting base hits along with home runs. It's not been feast or famine with her. She's maturing as a hitter and hitting some shots in the 5-6 hole that turns people around, then when she finally gets a good pitch, she hits it out of the yard. She's had a very mature six games this weekend."
» First baseman Lexi Cushing on her approach to her senior season: "Obviously I wanted to have my best year yet, but I didn't want to put too much pressure on myself even though Coach [Chelsea] Hawkins always says 'Pressure is a privilege.' I'm taking that to heart and trying to play my best."
» Cushing on what's working at the plate so far this season: "I was struggling the last couple weeks in practice. My swing was getting wacky, so I've been trying to get my legs and my hips back in my swing. Once I figured that out, I was able to see the ball well and square it up."
NEXT UP
» Middle Tennessee vs. Southern Illinois — Feb. 14, 10 a.m. CT
» Middle Tennessee vs. Central Arkansas — Feb. 14, 12:30 p.m. CT
Follow the Blue Raiders on Twitter (@MT_Softball), Facebook (Middle Tennessee Blue Raider Softball) and Instagram (@mt_softball).
MIDDLE TENNESSEE 4, PACIFIC 2
» Pacific took an undefeated record into the final game of opening weekend, defeating UC Riverside, Utah State and Titan Classic host Cal State Fullerton.
» Lexi Cushing opened Sunday's scoring in the second inning with her third home run of the weekend. All three home runs were leadoff homers.
» The Blue Raiders cashed in on a Tiger error in the third inning to tack on its second run of the game, which Summer Burgess scored.
» The rain then picked up in the top of the fourth, leading to two walks and two Pacific batters hit by a pitch. The Tigers scored two runs in the inning to tie the game.
» Lani Rodriguez and Kelci Hill delivered clutch two-out doubles in back-to-back at bats to help MT regain the lead, which it kept for the remainder of the game.
» After Cushing led off the bottom of the sixth with a single, Claire Smith singled down the left field line to score a pinch-running Savannah Freeman.
QUOTES FROM THE BLUE RAIDERS
» Head Coach Jeff Breeden on the outcome of this weekend's Titan Classic: "We chose a tough tournament to play in to see what we had in the first weekend. If a break goes our way yesterday, we might could've come out of this thing 5-1. I really like where our team is right now. We've had a lot of people step up, and our pitching has gotten better as the weekend went on. Since I've been here, we've not had a 3-4-5-6 [in the lineup] with the potential for power numbers, so I think we'll be fine."
» Coach Breeden on senior Lexi Cushing's weekend at the plate: "She's getting base hits along with home runs. It's not been feast or famine with her. She's maturing as a hitter and hitting some shots in the 5-6 hole that turns people around, then when she finally gets a good pitch, she hits it out of the yard. She's had a very mature six games this weekend."
» First baseman Lexi Cushing on her approach to her senior season: "Obviously I wanted to have my best year yet, but I didn't want to put too much pressure on myself even though Coach [Chelsea] Hawkins always says 'Pressure is a privilege.' I'm taking that to heart and trying to play my best."
» Cushing on what's working at the plate so far this season: "I was struggling the last couple weeks in practice. My swing was getting wacky, so I've been trying to get my legs and my hips back in my swing. Once I figured that out, I was able to see the ball well and square it up."
NEXT UP
» Middle Tennessee vs. Southern Illinois — Feb. 14, 10 a.m. CT
» Middle Tennessee vs. Central Arkansas — Feb. 14, 12:30 p.m. CT
Follow the Blue Raiders on Twitter (@MT_Softball), Facebook (Middle Tennessee Blue Raider Softball) and Instagram (@mt_softball).
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