Middle Tennesee State University Athletics
Burgess, Cushing ready to finish what they started
6/12/2020 5:00:00 PM | Softball, BRAA
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — Nothing went quite as planned for Middle Tennessee's softball team this season, especially for a couple of seniors who were ready to end their careers all over the program's record books.
Luckily, it turned out 2020 won't be the last time Lexi Cushing and Summer Burgess take the diamond as Blue Raiders.
After the season was called off just 28 games in, the NCAA announced spring sport student-athletes could receive an extra year of eligibility, meaning Cushing and Burgess could return in 2021 if they wanted.
The choice was easy.
"As soon as the announcement was made that we would be able to come back, it was kind of automatic," Cushing said. "I already had thought about going to grad school, so I figured I might as well go ahead and do it now since I have a chance to come back to play again."
Cushing and Burgess, two roommates who have been in the starting lineup for four years, are two of the best position players to ever don the blue and white.
Burgess has never missed a start at shortstop since she arrived on campus in 2017. The Delray Beach, Florida native ranks in the top five in the MT career record books in at bats, runs scored, hits, singles, walks and assists and the top 10 for total bases, on base percentage and stolen bases.
Cushing, a first baseman from Flower Mound, Texas, is already the program's all-time leader in home runs and RBIs and is also in the top five in slugging percentage, putouts, total bases, sacrifice flies and walks, and she's eighth in runs scored.
Adding them to a fantastic 2020 recruiting class that ranks as the best in Conference USA could make for a special final season once they're finally able to get back on the field.
"Having us back to be able to teach those girls that are coming in … that's going to be extremely helpful," Cushing said. "We both are really excited to play with that incoming freshman class. Everyone is talking about them being one of the best recruiting classes in the conference."
It's clear when they're across the diamond from one another the connection Burgess and Cushing have from shortstop to first base. They've roomed together for four years and couldn't imagine playing without the other.
When the NCAA announced the added year of eligibility, Cushing easily was set up in a master's program for business administration. Burgess, a nursing major, had planned to attend nursing school after graduating, but quickly switched gears and found a graduate program so she could come back to the team.
"That was the one stressful part about the whole situation," Burgess said. "I had to put nursing school on hold and look up what would be the best opportunity for me academically, and I decided to pursue a master's degree in public health.
"I was thankful I could still do something pertaining to the medical field."
Middle Tennessee's 2020 season was halted just 28 games in, with the Blue Raiders sporting a 15-13 record. However, they were showing signs of getting hot. They won 10 of their last 14 games, including a six-game win streak at the Madeira Beach Tournament.
Individually, Burgess and Cushing were having solid seasons. Burgess was second for MT and tied for 15th in Conference USA in runs scored (20), and her 31 hits were seventh in the league. Cushing had already blasted 10 home runs (third in C-USA), and her 21 runs scored were good for 10th in the conference.
With Burgess and Cushing coming back to lead the way in 2021, look for that hot streak to pick back up quickly. They're ready to finish what they started.
"We're roommates and we literally do everything together," Burgess said. "It wouldn't be the same if Lexi wasn't there, and we're ready to return and finish off what we started at MT."
Luckily, it turned out 2020 won't be the last time Lexi Cushing and Summer Burgess take the diamond as Blue Raiders.
After the season was called off just 28 games in, the NCAA announced spring sport student-athletes could receive an extra year of eligibility, meaning Cushing and Burgess could return in 2021 if they wanted.
The choice was easy.
"As soon as the announcement was made that we would be able to come back, it was kind of automatic," Cushing said. "I already had thought about going to grad school, so I figured I might as well go ahead and do it now since I have a chance to come back to play again."
Cushing and Burgess, two roommates who have been in the starting lineup for four years, are two of the best position players to ever don the blue and white.
Burgess has never missed a start at shortstop since she arrived on campus in 2017. The Delray Beach, Florida native ranks in the top five in the MT career record books in at bats, runs scored, hits, singles, walks and assists and the top 10 for total bases, on base percentage and stolen bases.
Cushing, a first baseman from Flower Mound, Texas, is already the program's all-time leader in home runs and RBIs and is also in the top five in slugging percentage, putouts, total bases, sacrifice flies and walks, and she's eighth in runs scored.
Adding them to a fantastic 2020 recruiting class that ranks as the best in Conference USA could make for a special final season once they're finally able to get back on the field.
"Having us back to be able to teach those girls that are coming in … that's going to be extremely helpful," Cushing said. "We both are really excited to play with that incoming freshman class. Everyone is talking about them being one of the best recruiting classes in the conference."
It's clear when they're across the diamond from one another the connection Burgess and Cushing have from shortstop to first base. They've roomed together for four years and couldn't imagine playing without the other.
When the NCAA announced the added year of eligibility, Cushing easily was set up in a master's program for business administration. Burgess, a nursing major, had planned to attend nursing school after graduating, but quickly switched gears and found a graduate program so she could come back to the team.
"That was the one stressful part about the whole situation," Burgess said. "I had to put nursing school on hold and look up what would be the best opportunity for me academically, and I decided to pursue a master's degree in public health.
"I was thankful I could still do something pertaining to the medical field."
Middle Tennessee's 2020 season was halted just 28 games in, with the Blue Raiders sporting a 15-13 record. However, they were showing signs of getting hot. They won 10 of their last 14 games, including a six-game win streak at the Madeira Beach Tournament.
Individually, Burgess and Cushing were having solid seasons. Burgess was second for MT and tied for 15th in Conference USA in runs scored (20), and her 31 hits were seventh in the league. Cushing had already blasted 10 home runs (third in C-USA), and her 21 runs scored were good for 10th in the conference.
With Burgess and Cushing coming back to lead the way in 2021, look for that hot streak to pick back up quickly. They're ready to finish what they started.
"We're roommates and we literally do everything together," Burgess said. "It wouldn't be the same if Lexi wasn't there, and we're ready to return and finish off what we started at MT."
Players Mentioned
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/ Softball
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