Middle Tennesee State University Athletics
Blue Raiders secure pair of wins during Thursday doubleheader against Tennessee State and Columbia State CC
10/15/2021 12:04:00 AM | Softball
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – Middle Tennessee Softball picked up two wins on Thursday, starting the day with a solid 7-3 performance against the Tennessee State Tigers, before finishing the day with some fireworks as the Blue Raiders offense exploded for a 26-3 win against the Columbia State Community College Chargers.
Middle Tennessee 7 vs. Tennessee State 3
Amaya Harris has an impressive day as she led the Blue Raiders offensively against the Tigers. Harris went a perfect 3-for-3, knocking across two RBIs and rounding the bases twice herself. Laura Mealer also had a great day, going 3-for-4 and knocking across two RBIs. Hailey Bosley went 1-for-3 with two RBIs and Kelci Hill tallied the final RBI for the Blue Raiders.
Keri Munn started in the circle for the Blue Raiders, pitching four innings and strikeout out a team-high six batters. She also allowed two runs on three hits. Mia Marinakis put in an inning of work, giving up two hits and a run. Kailey Ahlstrom closed out the contest, pitching two innings and striking out one Tiger.
The Tigers got things started in the opening frame as they took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first.
However, it didn't take long for the Blue Raiders respond. Harris was walked to lead off the inning. Harris stole second and then advanced to third on a fielder's choice, before Mealer knocked an RBI single to center field to bring across Harris and even the contest at one apiece, 1-1.
The Blue Raiders broke things open in the second inning. Danielle Taitt opened the inning with a single to left field. Savannah Freeman came in to pinch run for Taitt. Sargent got on base off a single to center field, moving freeman to third. Sargent got in scoring position off a stolen base before Bosley knocked a two RBI double to left field to bring home Freeman and Sargent. Freeman came back in to pinch run for Bosley. Freeman was moved to third on a single to left field from Herring. Harris followed it up with a one-out RBI single to right field to bring home Freeman a second time and give the Blue Raiders a 4-1 advantage.
Tennessee State got one back in the fourth to cut into Middle Tennessee's lead and get back within two, 4-2.
The Blue Raiders extended their lead to four in the bottom of the fourth. Following the first out, Herring drew a walk to get things started. Herring stole second to get into scoring position before Harris knocked a one-out single to right field, scoring Herring and making it to third on the throw and a Tiger error. Hill hit a sacrifice fly to left field to bring home Harris and push Middle Tennessee's lead to 6-2.
Tennessee State tallied another run in the top of the fifth to cut back into the Blue Raider lead, 6-3.
However, that was as close as the game would get. Harris connected on a one-out triple to right center to put the Blue Raiders back into scoring position. Freeman came in to pinch run for Harris, before Mealer hit a two-out RBI double down the left field line to plate Freeman and bring the game to its final, 7-3.
Middle Tennessee 26 vs. Columbia State CC 3
The Blue Raiders offense was on full display in the nightcap against the Chargers. Anyce Harvey and Shelby Sargent tallied a team-high five RBIs each in the contest, hitting 3-for-5 and 2-for-6, respectively. Harvey touched home three times, while Sargent rounded the bases once in the contest. Taitt also had a fantastic day, going 2-for-4 and knocking in four RBIs, while also scoring twice herself. Claire Czajkowski went 2-for-4 at the place, recording three RBIs and earning a run. Claire Woods batted 2-for-4 with two runs, while Ava Tepe also tallied a pair of RBIs in the contest. Hill, Marinakis, Laura Mealer, Freeman, and Ashlee Jacoway rounded out the Blue Raiders with an RBI apiece in the win.
Gretchen Mead started the contest on the mound for the Blue Raiders, pitching three innings, while recording three strikeouts and allowing one run on two hits. Ahlstrom put in two innings of work, recording one strikeout and allowing two runs on two hits. Claire Woods pitched three innings, recording a team-high six strikeouts. Taitt closed out the game, pitching two innings and giving up four hits.
The Blue Raiders opened the game with four runs in the first. Harvey doubled to left center with one out to bring across Mealer and Shoulders. Czajkowski used a one-out RBI sacrifice bunt to bring home Harvey. Sargent closed out the inning with a two-out RBI single to left center to bring across Freeman and give Middle Tennesse a 4-0 lead.
Middle Tennessee really broke away in the second inning, pushing six runs across. Hill hit a bunt single to third base and beat out the throw to score Herring. Taitt knocked a one-out two-RBI double to center field to plate Shoulders and Hill. Sargent reached on an error, which brought across Taitt and Harvey. Ava Tepe was able to reach on another Charger error to bring across Sargent and kick the Blue Raiders lead out to double digits, 10-0.
Columbia State got on the board in the third to bring the game back within nine, 10-1.
However, the Blue Raiders got the run back in the third as Shoulders connected on a lead-off triple, before Mealer hit an RBI single to left field to bring home Shoulders and push the Blue Raiders lead back to 10, 11-1.
In the fourth, Harvey connected on a two-out two-RBI single to short stop to bring across plate Freeman and Shoulders beat out the throw at home tally the second run and bring the Blue Raiders lead to 13-1.
The Chargers plated two in the top of the fifth to cut back into the Blue Raiders lead and get back within 13-3.
The Blue Raiders pushed four more across in the sixth. Shoulders led things with a lead-off triple to left center. Woods connected on a single to left field to plate Shoulders. Czajkowski one-out two-RBI double to left center, bringing across Harvey and Hill. Czajkowski scored on a throw off a sacrifice fly by Tepe to extend Middle Tennessee's lead to 17-3.
In the seventh, Harvey got on base off a Charger error, which brought home Hill. Jacoway followed that up with RBI sacrifice ground out to first to plate Shoulders and push the Blue Raiders lead to 19-3.
Woods led off the ninth inning with a solo home run to left field. Taitt connected on a two-RBI double to left center field to bring across Jacoway and Herring. Freeman hit a sacrifice ground out to second base to bring home Taitt. Marinakis closed out the inning with a two-out RBI single to left field to plate Tepe and put the Blue Raiders up 24-3.
Middle Tennessee tacked on two more in the 10th inning, as Sargent hit a two-out two-RBI double to center field to plate Herring and Woods and bring the game to its final 26-3.
Up Next
The Blue Raiders close out the fall season on Tuesday, October 19 as they host the Wallace State Community College – Hanceville Lions for a 4 p.m. first pitch at Blue Raider Softball Field.
FOLLOW THE BLUE RAIDERS
Follow Middle Tennessee Softball on social media on Facebook (/BlueRaiderSoftball), Twitter (MT_Softball) and Instagram (MT_Softball).
Middle Tennessee 7 vs. Tennessee State 3
Amaya Harris has an impressive day as she led the Blue Raiders offensively against the Tigers. Harris went a perfect 3-for-3, knocking across two RBIs and rounding the bases twice herself. Laura Mealer also had a great day, going 3-for-4 and knocking across two RBIs. Hailey Bosley went 1-for-3 with two RBIs and Kelci Hill tallied the final RBI for the Blue Raiders.
Keri Munn started in the circle for the Blue Raiders, pitching four innings and strikeout out a team-high six batters. She also allowed two runs on three hits. Mia Marinakis put in an inning of work, giving up two hits and a run. Kailey Ahlstrom closed out the contest, pitching two innings and striking out one Tiger.
The Tigers got things started in the opening frame as they took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first.
However, it didn't take long for the Blue Raiders respond. Harris was walked to lead off the inning. Harris stole second and then advanced to third on a fielder's choice, before Mealer knocked an RBI single to center field to bring across Harris and even the contest at one apiece, 1-1.
The Blue Raiders broke things open in the second inning. Danielle Taitt opened the inning with a single to left field. Savannah Freeman came in to pinch run for Taitt. Sargent got on base off a single to center field, moving freeman to third. Sargent got in scoring position off a stolen base before Bosley knocked a two RBI double to left field to bring home Freeman and Sargent. Freeman came back in to pinch run for Bosley. Freeman was moved to third on a single to left field from Herring. Harris followed it up with a one-out RBI single to right field to bring home Freeman a second time and give the Blue Raiders a 4-1 advantage.
Tennessee State got one back in the fourth to cut into Middle Tennessee's lead and get back within two, 4-2.
The Blue Raiders extended their lead to four in the bottom of the fourth. Following the first out, Herring drew a walk to get things started. Herring stole second to get into scoring position before Harris knocked a one-out single to right field, scoring Herring and making it to third on the throw and a Tiger error. Hill hit a sacrifice fly to left field to bring home Harris and push Middle Tennessee's lead to 6-2.
Tennessee State tallied another run in the top of the fifth to cut back into the Blue Raider lead, 6-3.
However, that was as close as the game would get. Harris connected on a one-out triple to right center to put the Blue Raiders back into scoring position. Freeman came in to pinch run for Harris, before Mealer hit a two-out RBI double down the left field line to plate Freeman and bring the game to its final, 7-3.
Middle Tennessee 26 vs. Columbia State CC 3
The Blue Raiders offense was on full display in the nightcap against the Chargers. Anyce Harvey and Shelby Sargent tallied a team-high five RBIs each in the contest, hitting 3-for-5 and 2-for-6, respectively. Harvey touched home three times, while Sargent rounded the bases once in the contest. Taitt also had a fantastic day, going 2-for-4 and knocking in four RBIs, while also scoring twice herself. Claire Czajkowski went 2-for-4 at the place, recording three RBIs and earning a run. Claire Woods batted 2-for-4 with two runs, while Ava Tepe also tallied a pair of RBIs in the contest. Hill, Marinakis, Laura Mealer, Freeman, and Ashlee Jacoway rounded out the Blue Raiders with an RBI apiece in the win.
Gretchen Mead started the contest on the mound for the Blue Raiders, pitching three innings, while recording three strikeouts and allowing one run on two hits. Ahlstrom put in two innings of work, recording one strikeout and allowing two runs on two hits. Claire Woods pitched three innings, recording a team-high six strikeouts. Taitt closed out the game, pitching two innings and giving up four hits.
The Blue Raiders opened the game with four runs in the first. Harvey doubled to left center with one out to bring across Mealer and Shoulders. Czajkowski used a one-out RBI sacrifice bunt to bring home Harvey. Sargent closed out the inning with a two-out RBI single to left center to bring across Freeman and give Middle Tennesse a 4-0 lead.
Middle Tennessee really broke away in the second inning, pushing six runs across. Hill hit a bunt single to third base and beat out the throw to score Herring. Taitt knocked a one-out two-RBI double to center field to plate Shoulders and Hill. Sargent reached on an error, which brought across Taitt and Harvey. Ava Tepe was able to reach on another Charger error to bring across Sargent and kick the Blue Raiders lead out to double digits, 10-0.
Columbia State got on the board in the third to bring the game back within nine, 10-1.
However, the Blue Raiders got the run back in the third as Shoulders connected on a lead-off triple, before Mealer hit an RBI single to left field to bring home Shoulders and push the Blue Raiders lead back to 10, 11-1.
In the fourth, Harvey connected on a two-out two-RBI single to short stop to bring across plate Freeman and Shoulders beat out the throw at home tally the second run and bring the Blue Raiders lead to 13-1.
The Chargers plated two in the top of the fifth to cut back into the Blue Raiders lead and get back within 13-3.
The Blue Raiders pushed four more across in the sixth. Shoulders led things with a lead-off triple to left center. Woods connected on a single to left field to plate Shoulders. Czajkowski one-out two-RBI double to left center, bringing across Harvey and Hill. Czajkowski scored on a throw off a sacrifice fly by Tepe to extend Middle Tennessee's lead to 17-3.
In the seventh, Harvey got on base off a Charger error, which brought home Hill. Jacoway followed that up with RBI sacrifice ground out to first to plate Shoulders and push the Blue Raiders lead to 19-3.
Woods led off the ninth inning with a solo home run to left field. Taitt connected on a two-RBI double to left center field to bring across Jacoway and Herring. Freeman hit a sacrifice ground out to second base to bring home Taitt. Marinakis closed out the inning with a two-out RBI single to left field to plate Tepe and put the Blue Raiders up 24-3.
Middle Tennessee tacked on two more in the 10th inning, as Sargent hit a two-out two-RBI double to center field to plate Herring and Woods and bring the game to its final 26-3.
Up Next
The Blue Raiders close out the fall season on Tuesday, October 19 as they host the Wallace State Community College – Hanceville Lions for a 4 p.m. first pitch at Blue Raider Softball Field.
FOLLOW THE BLUE RAIDERS
Follow Middle Tennessee Softball on social media on Facebook (/BlueRaiderSoftball), Twitter (MT_Softball) and Instagram (MT_Softball).
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