Middle Tennessee State University Athletics
Softball season preview: Pitching staff loaded with options
1/25/2021 12:30:00 PM | Softball
This is the first in a series as we get ready for the start of MT's softball season on Feb. 12. Stay tuned for more on the Blue Raiders' infielders and outfielders.
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — With starters returning all over its lineup, Middle Tennessee may be in a good position to have a strong season if it can get consistent pitching.
The good thing for head coach Jeff Breeden and the Blue Raiders is just like the lineup, almost all of the pitching staff is returning.
"I think we have enough of a pitching staff that we'll be fine in that category, if everybody stays healthy," Breeden said. "We have a few arms we can turn to at any time."
As he said, Breeden has plenty of arms to choose from. Five of the six pitchers on the roster saw meaningful innings last season, the only other being incoming freshman Danielle Taitt.
His top returner is senior Amber Baldwin. She looked like an ace at times last season, pacing the team with 13 starts and 15 appearances and finishing with a 5-4 record and 3.05 ERA. If she can turn even more dominant, MT should find a place toward the top of Conference USA.
"We're going to look to her to be a leader," Breeden said. "We're expecting her to get even better, and we hope to get big things out of her."
The pitching staff has a few veteran catchers to throw to in seniors Ryan King (22 starts last season) and Brooke McClure and junior Hailey Bosley. However, talented incoming freshman Makenzie Hutchinson, from Lakewood, California, had a tremendous showing in the fall and might have the starting nod heading into opening day.
"Hutchinson had a great fall for us," Breeden said. "She's a great receiver and an athletic kid. … We have some depth back there behind the plate that we can use."
The Blue Raiders will kick off their season Feb. 12 at The Spring Games. Their first home game will be March 11 against SIU Edwardsville in the MTSU Invitational.
"As we look at our schedule, it will probably change and be fluid," Breeden said. "We know that we'll have some COVID issues that pop up … but we'll have a quality schedule for our fans to see."
Here are the pitchers and catchers on the roster:
Pitchers
Amber Baldwin, Sr., Huntington Beach, California
• Led team with 15 appearances, 13 starts, 5 wins, 57.1 innings, 44 strikeouts in 2020
• Finished 5-4 with 3.05 ERA, 44 strikeouts, 57.1 IP, 15 appearances, 13 starts in 2020
• Pitched MT's only shutout in 2020, 3-0 against South Alabama
• Career numbers: 20-13, 2.98 ERA, 134 strikeouts, 232.1 IP, 43 starts, 62 appearances
Kailey Ahlstrom, Jr., Prior Lake, Minnesota
• Finished 4-2 with 3.44 ERA, 14 strikeouts, 38.1 IP, 12 appearances, 7 starts in 2020
• 3 career saves are tied for fifth in team history
• Led the team in starts (23), strikeouts (97), IP (146.2), complete games (12) in 2019
• Career numbers: 15-14, 3.21 ERA, 111 strikeouts, 185.1 IP, 30 starts, 44 appearances
Mia Marinakis, Jr. Murrieta, California
• Also plays first base for the Blue Raiders
• 2.51 ERA, 1.31 WHIP led team in 2020; second with 14 appearances, 47.1 IP, 22 strikeouts
• .222 BA in 54 plate appearances, 1 HR, 8 RBIs in 2020
• Transferred in summer 2019 to MT from Cal State Fullerton
Corrina Dodd, Jr., Trafford, Alabama
• Finished 3-0 with 4.44 ERA, 8 strikeouts, 17.2 IP, 5 appearances, 3 starts in 2020
• Only Blue Raider to finish with an undefeated record in 2020 (3-0)
• Career numbers: 15-9, 3.88 EA, 71 strikeouts, 157 IP, 19 starts, 40 appearances
Gretchen Mead, Jr., Kingwood, Texas
• Finished 1-3 with 4.63 ERA, 13 strikeouts, 19.2 IP, 7 appearances, 2 starts in 2020
• Career numbers: 1-4, 5.77 ERA, 17 strikeouts, 30.1 IP, 3 starts, 15 appearances
Danielle Taitt, Fr., Snellville, Georgia
• Also plays first base for the Blue Raiders
• Gwinnett County Softball Super 6, All-State Senior Team in 2019, four-time all-county
Catchers
Ryan King, Sr., Westminster, California
• Played in 23 games, 22 starts, .085 BA, .416 OPS, 1 HR, 3 RBIs, .972 FLD% in 2020
• Threw out 4 would-be base stealers in 2020, tied for sixth in C-USA
• Career numbers: 92 games played, 82 starts, .179 BA, 2 HR, 24 RBIs, .963 FLD%
Brooke McClure, Sr., Bell Buckle, Tennessee (Riverdale High School)
• Played in 17 games, 4 starts, 0 errors made in 2020
• Career numbers: 90 games played, 32 starts, .234 BA, 1 HR, 30 R, 0 errors
Hailey Bosley, Jr., Yorba Linda, California
• Played in 7 games, 2 starts, 0 errors made in 2020
• Career numbers: 36 games played, 22 starts, .175 BA, 3 2Bs, 5 R, .964 FLD%
Makenzie Hutchinson, Fr., Lakewood, California
• Four-year starter at Lakewood High School; captain of Ohana Tigers travel team
• CIF First Team honors as a senior
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — With starters returning all over its lineup, Middle Tennessee may be in a good position to have a strong season if it can get consistent pitching.
The good thing for head coach Jeff Breeden and the Blue Raiders is just like the lineup, almost all of the pitching staff is returning.
"I think we have enough of a pitching staff that we'll be fine in that category, if everybody stays healthy," Breeden said. "We have a few arms we can turn to at any time."
As he said, Breeden has plenty of arms to choose from. Five of the six pitchers on the roster saw meaningful innings last season, the only other being incoming freshman Danielle Taitt.
His top returner is senior Amber Baldwin. She looked like an ace at times last season, pacing the team with 13 starts and 15 appearances and finishing with a 5-4 record and 3.05 ERA. If she can turn even more dominant, MT should find a place toward the top of Conference USA.
"We're going to look to her to be a leader," Breeden said. "We're expecting her to get even better, and we hope to get big things out of her."
The pitching staff has a few veteran catchers to throw to in seniors Ryan King (22 starts last season) and Brooke McClure and junior Hailey Bosley. However, talented incoming freshman Makenzie Hutchinson, from Lakewood, California, had a tremendous showing in the fall and might have the starting nod heading into opening day.
"Hutchinson had a great fall for us," Breeden said. "She's a great receiver and an athletic kid. … We have some depth back there behind the plate that we can use."
The Blue Raiders will kick off their season Feb. 12 at The Spring Games. Their first home game will be March 11 against SIU Edwardsville in the MTSU Invitational.
"As we look at our schedule, it will probably change and be fluid," Breeden said. "We know that we'll have some COVID issues that pop up … but we'll have a quality schedule for our fans to see."
Here are the pitchers and catchers on the roster:
Pitchers
Amber Baldwin, Sr., Huntington Beach, California
• Led team with 15 appearances, 13 starts, 5 wins, 57.1 innings, 44 strikeouts in 2020
• Finished 5-4 with 3.05 ERA, 44 strikeouts, 57.1 IP, 15 appearances, 13 starts in 2020
• Pitched MT's only shutout in 2020, 3-0 against South Alabama
• Career numbers: 20-13, 2.98 ERA, 134 strikeouts, 232.1 IP, 43 starts, 62 appearances
Kailey Ahlstrom, Jr., Prior Lake, Minnesota
• Finished 4-2 with 3.44 ERA, 14 strikeouts, 38.1 IP, 12 appearances, 7 starts in 2020
• 3 career saves are tied for fifth in team history
• Led the team in starts (23), strikeouts (97), IP (146.2), complete games (12) in 2019
• Career numbers: 15-14, 3.21 ERA, 111 strikeouts, 185.1 IP, 30 starts, 44 appearances
Mia Marinakis, Jr. Murrieta, California
• Also plays first base for the Blue Raiders
• 2.51 ERA, 1.31 WHIP led team in 2020; second with 14 appearances, 47.1 IP, 22 strikeouts
• .222 BA in 54 plate appearances, 1 HR, 8 RBIs in 2020
• Transferred in summer 2019 to MT from Cal State Fullerton
Corrina Dodd, Jr., Trafford, Alabama
• Finished 3-0 with 4.44 ERA, 8 strikeouts, 17.2 IP, 5 appearances, 3 starts in 2020
• Only Blue Raider to finish with an undefeated record in 2020 (3-0)
• Career numbers: 15-9, 3.88 EA, 71 strikeouts, 157 IP, 19 starts, 40 appearances
Gretchen Mead, Jr., Kingwood, Texas
• Finished 1-3 with 4.63 ERA, 13 strikeouts, 19.2 IP, 7 appearances, 2 starts in 2020
• Career numbers: 1-4, 5.77 ERA, 17 strikeouts, 30.1 IP, 3 starts, 15 appearances
Danielle Taitt, Fr., Snellville, Georgia
• Also plays first base for the Blue Raiders
• Gwinnett County Softball Super 6, All-State Senior Team in 2019, four-time all-county
Catchers
Ryan King, Sr., Westminster, California
• Played in 23 games, 22 starts, .085 BA, .416 OPS, 1 HR, 3 RBIs, .972 FLD% in 2020
• Threw out 4 would-be base stealers in 2020, tied for sixth in C-USA
• Career numbers: 92 games played, 82 starts, .179 BA, 2 HR, 24 RBIs, .963 FLD%
Brooke McClure, Sr., Bell Buckle, Tennessee (Riverdale High School)
• Played in 17 games, 4 starts, 0 errors made in 2020
• Career numbers: 90 games played, 32 starts, .234 BA, 1 HR, 30 R, 0 errors
Hailey Bosley, Jr., Yorba Linda, California
• Played in 7 games, 2 starts, 0 errors made in 2020
• Career numbers: 36 games played, 22 starts, .175 BA, 3 2Bs, 5 R, .964 FLD%
Makenzie Hutchinson, Fr., Lakewood, California
• Four-year starter at Lakewood High School; captain of Ohana Tigers travel team
• CIF First Team honors as a senior
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