MT Takes First of Back-To-Back Against Memphis

Tuesday, March 10

Murfreesboro, TN

3 PM

Middle Tennessee

6-10

Memphis

10-6

Memphis

Middle Tennessee

3/10/2020 6:09:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score @MT_Baseball vs Memphis Highlights

By: Josh Vardaman

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — Middle Tennessee got a solid in-state win Tuesday on the front end of a back-to-back against Memphis.

The Blue Raiders (6-10) got a great outing from its pitching staff and were efficient offensively, using only five total hits to beat the Tigers (10-6) 6-1.

"We're happy to get the win, and other than only getting five hits, I thought we were ok offensively," Middle Tennessee head coach Jim Toman said. "This game usually comes down to pitching, and when you only walk two and strike out eight and play good defense, that's a pretty good formula."

It was group effort for MT on the mound, as five arms combined to hold Memphis, which went into the day averaging 7.47 runs per game, to a single score.

Red-shirt senior Walker Armstrong got the start on the mound for the first time this season, and he set the tone with two strong innings, giving up three hits and forcing four ground outs.

David Zoz got his first win of the season as he, Scheldon Paulk and Brycen Thomas each got two innings of work after Armstrong. Junior DJ Wright polished off the game with a clean ninth inning, only allowing one baserunner on a walk.

"We only had two walks, and that was the key," Toman said. "We played good defense and made some plays. I thought the turning point in the game was in the sixth inning when they mixed three or four hits in a row and [left fielder] Hunter Sullivan threw a guy out at the plate. I thought that kind of squelched their rally a little bit."

The dominant Blue Raider pitching allowed the lineup to make efficient work of the Tiger arms.

Despite getting outhit 10-5, MT's hits were very timely, and it benefited from two Memphis errors. The Raiders also scored three runs thanks to a wild pitch, balk and passed ball in the sixth and seventh innings.

The scoring started in the bottom of the third, when Hunter Sullivan doubled to drive in Gabe Jennings. Nathan Sanders followed with a run-scoring triple, then he came across for his team-leading 12th run scored this season when Wright singled in the next at-bat.

"We hit when we needed to, and we extended some at-bats," Toman said.

With the win, Middle Tennessee is now 5-1 at Reese Smith Jr. Field on the young season.

"You're always more comfortable playing at home, and we've played some really good teams on the road," Toman said. "Friendly surroundings, you get to sleep in your own bed, you get to get up and hit in the cages — it's just a little bit easier on the guys when you're at home."

The two teams will meet again Wednesday. First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m., and Hunter Sullivan is scheduled to get the start on the mound for the Blue Raiders, his first of the season.

After Wednesday's matchup with Memphis, MT will hit the road over the weekend for the first Conference USA series of the season against LA Tech. They'll play in Jackson, Mississippi since LA Tech was displaced this season by a tornado.