Middle Tennessee State University Athletics
Softball season preview: Depth all over MT infield
2/1/2021 12:30:00 PM | Softball
This is the second in a series as we get ready for the start of MT's softball season on Feb. 12. Stay tuned for a preview on the Blue Raiders' outfielders, and see more on the team's pitchers and catchers here.
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — Middle Tennessee enters the 2021 season with some high expectations, and a lot of that comes from the talent it has in the infield.
"Our excitement is really high," head coach Jeff Breeden said. "We have a lot of returning players, and at some positions, we have returning players who've played there for 3.5 years plus … and we're at least two deep at every position."
The Blue Raiders are led by first baseman Lexi Cushing and shortstop Summer Burgess, two graduates who returned this season thanks to the NCAA granting players an added year of eligibility.
Cushing and Burgess are two of the program's all-time greats, already ranked in the top 10 of several career categories. Cushing owns the program's home run and RBIs records, while ranking in the top 10 in other batting categories, and Burgess is in the top five for at-bats, runs scored, hits, singles and walks and is creeping up the record books on a few other lists.
Though Cushing and Burgess are the team's obvious leaders, there are plenty of talented ladies surrounding them in the infield to make the group the team's strong spot. Four of the team's five players who started all 28 games in 2020 are in the infield — Cushing, Burgess, Jocelynn De La Cruz and Lani Rodriguez — as well as the team's leading hitter, sophomore Kaylee Richetto.
"Everybody on our team can play," Breeden said. "I think that our level of competition, if someone gets injured or someone gets COVID or what have you, I don't think our level of competition is going to drop at all."
The infield doesn't just provide pop in the lineup, either. It helped MT to a .973 fielding percentage in 2020, best in Conference USA.
"From a fielding standpoint, our infield was really good last year when you look at the numbers," Breeden said. "With so many players returning there, we should be really good again."
The Blue Raiders will kick off their season Feb. 12 at The Spring Games. Their first home game will be March 12 against Dayton 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 infielders on the roster:
Summer Burgess, SS, Gr., Delray Beach, Florida
• One of 5 Blue Raiders to play and start all 28 games in 2020
• Led team in at-bats (93), doubles (6); second in runs (20), hits (31), steals (10) in 2020
• .333 BA, 31 H, 6 2B, 9 RBI, 20 R, 13 BB, .411 OB%, 10-12 SB, .921 FLD% in 2020
• Career numbers: 197 games played and started, .340 BA, 116 R, 51 RBI, 24 2B, 74 BB, .410 OB%, 38 SB, .925 FLD%; two-time All-C-USA
• Top 5 all-time at MT in at-bats, runs scored, hits, singles, walks, assists; top 10 in total bases, on-base percentage, steals
Lexi Cushing, 1B, Gr., Flower Mound, Texas
• One of 5 Blue Raiders to play and start all 28 games in 2020
• Led team in runs (21), HR (10), total bases (60), BB (16), FLD % (.994); second in OPS (1.258), SLG% (.779), RBI (19), OB% (.479); third in hits (28) in 2020
• .364 BA, 28 H, 10 HR, 19 RBI, 21 R, 16 BB, .779 SLG%, .479 OB%, 1.258 OPS, 1 E in 2020
• Career numbers: 182 games played, 172 starts, .291 BA, 44 HR, 114 RBI, 93 R, 28 2B, 70 BB, .612 SLG%, .385 OB%, .997 OPS, .983 FLD%; two-time All-C-USA
• Leads MT all-time in home runs and RBIs; top 10 in slugging percentage, putouts, total bases, sac flies, walks, runs scored
Jocelynn De La Cruz, 3B, Sr., Lake Elsinore, California
• One of 5 Blue Raiders to play and start all 28 games in 2020
• Led team in RBI (23), assists (51), sac flies (3); second in HR (8), total bases (51) in 2020
• .289 BA, 26 H, 8 HR, 23 RBI, 11 R, .567 SLG%, 51 assists, 2 errors, .976 FLD% in 2020
• Career numbers: 132 games played, 123 starts, .258 BA, 16 HR, 76 RBI, 34 R, 99 H, .946 FLD%
Lani Rodriguez, 2B, Jr., Covina, California
• One of 5 Blue Raiders to play and start all 28 games in 2020
• .219 BA, 2 2B, 3 HR, 10 RBI, 7 R, .982 FLD% in 2020
• Career numbers: 78 games played, 75 starts, .222 BA, 46 H, 22 R, 6 2B, 24 RBI, .962 FLD%
Kaylee Richetto, DP/3B, So., Mt. Juliet, Tennessee (Wilson Central High School)
• Led team and C-USA freshmen in BA (.450), slugging (.825), on-base percentage (.560), OPS (1.385) in 2020
• Played in 22 games, 20 starts, .450 BA, 18 H, 5 HR, 13 RBI, 7 R, 10 BB, .825 SLG%, .560 OB%, 1.385 OPS in 2020
• Hit MT's only grand slam of 2020 against Houston Baptist
Mia Marinakis, 1B/P, Jr., Murrieta, California
• Also pitches for the Blue Raiders
• .222 BA in 54 plate appearances, 1 HR, 8 RBIs in 2020
• 2.51 ERA, 1.31 WHIP led team in 2020; second with 14 appearances, 47.1 IP, 22 strikeouts
• Transferred in 2020 to MT from Cal State Fullerton
Gracie Kirby, 3B/1B, Jr., Murfreesboro (Oakland High School)
• Played in 9 games, 3 starts, .333 BA, .533 SLG%, 5 H, 3 2B, 5 RBI in 2020
• Missed freshman season in 2019 due to preseason injury
Danielle Taitt, 1B/P, Fr., Snellville, Georgia
• Also pitches for the Blue Raiders
• Gwinnett County Softball Super 6, All-State Senior Team in 2019, four-time all-county
Amaya Harris, SS/2B, Fr., Stockbridge, Georgia
• C-USA's top-ranked signee in the 2020 class according to Extra Elite 100 (No. 74 overall)
• Team captain 3 years at Dutchtown High School
Nahri Tath-Slezak, SS, Fr., Fontana, California
• First Team All-Citrus Belt 3 times; Citrus Belt MVP in 2019
• Played travel ball for SoCal Athletics
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — Middle Tennessee enters the 2021 season with some high expectations, and a lot of that comes from the talent it has in the infield.
"Our excitement is really high," head coach Jeff Breeden said. "We have a lot of returning players, and at some positions, we have returning players who've played there for 3.5 years plus … and we're at least two deep at every position."
The Blue Raiders are led by first baseman Lexi Cushing and shortstop Summer Burgess, two graduates who returned this season thanks to the NCAA granting players an added year of eligibility.
Cushing and Burgess are two of the program's all-time greats, already ranked in the top 10 of several career categories. Cushing owns the program's home run and RBIs records, while ranking in the top 10 in other batting categories, and Burgess is in the top five for at-bats, runs scored, hits, singles and walks and is creeping up the record books on a few other lists.
Though Cushing and Burgess are the team's obvious leaders, there are plenty of talented ladies surrounding them in the infield to make the group the team's strong spot. Four of the team's five players who started all 28 games in 2020 are in the infield — Cushing, Burgess, Jocelynn De La Cruz and Lani Rodriguez — as well as the team's leading hitter, sophomore Kaylee Richetto.
"Everybody on our team can play," Breeden said. "I think that our level of competition, if someone gets injured or someone gets COVID or what have you, I don't think our level of competition is going to drop at all."
The infield doesn't just provide pop in the lineup, either. It helped MT to a .973 fielding percentage in 2020, best in Conference USA.
"From a fielding standpoint, our infield was really good last year when you look at the numbers," Breeden said. "With so many players returning there, we should be really good again."
The Blue Raiders will kick off their season Feb. 12 at The Spring Games. Their first home game will be March 12 against Dayton 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 infielders on the roster:
Summer Burgess, SS, Gr., Delray Beach, Florida
• One of 5 Blue Raiders to play and start all 28 games in 2020
• Led team in at-bats (93), doubles (6); second in runs (20), hits (31), steals (10) in 2020
• .333 BA, 31 H, 6 2B, 9 RBI, 20 R, 13 BB, .411 OB%, 10-12 SB, .921 FLD% in 2020
• Career numbers: 197 games played and started, .340 BA, 116 R, 51 RBI, 24 2B, 74 BB, .410 OB%, 38 SB, .925 FLD%; two-time All-C-USA
• Top 5 all-time at MT in at-bats, runs scored, hits, singles, walks, assists; top 10 in total bases, on-base percentage, steals
Lexi Cushing, 1B, Gr., Flower Mound, Texas
• One of 5 Blue Raiders to play and start all 28 games in 2020
• Led team in runs (21), HR (10), total bases (60), BB (16), FLD % (.994); second in OPS (1.258), SLG% (.779), RBI (19), OB% (.479); third in hits (28) in 2020
• .364 BA, 28 H, 10 HR, 19 RBI, 21 R, 16 BB, .779 SLG%, .479 OB%, 1.258 OPS, 1 E in 2020
• Career numbers: 182 games played, 172 starts, .291 BA, 44 HR, 114 RBI, 93 R, 28 2B, 70 BB, .612 SLG%, .385 OB%, .997 OPS, .983 FLD%; two-time All-C-USA
• Leads MT all-time in home runs and RBIs; top 10 in slugging percentage, putouts, total bases, sac flies, walks, runs scored
Jocelynn De La Cruz, 3B, Sr., Lake Elsinore, California
• One of 5 Blue Raiders to play and start all 28 games in 2020
• Led team in RBI (23), assists (51), sac flies (3); second in HR (8), total bases (51) in 2020
• .289 BA, 26 H, 8 HR, 23 RBI, 11 R, .567 SLG%, 51 assists, 2 errors, .976 FLD% in 2020
• Career numbers: 132 games played, 123 starts, .258 BA, 16 HR, 76 RBI, 34 R, 99 H, .946 FLD%
Lani Rodriguez, 2B, Jr., Covina, California
• One of 5 Blue Raiders to play and start all 28 games in 2020
• .219 BA, 2 2B, 3 HR, 10 RBI, 7 R, .982 FLD% in 2020
• Career numbers: 78 games played, 75 starts, .222 BA, 46 H, 22 R, 6 2B, 24 RBI, .962 FLD%
Kaylee Richetto, DP/3B, So., Mt. Juliet, Tennessee (Wilson Central High School)
• Led team and C-USA freshmen in BA (.450), slugging (.825), on-base percentage (.560), OPS (1.385) in 2020
• Played in 22 games, 20 starts, .450 BA, 18 H, 5 HR, 13 RBI, 7 R, 10 BB, .825 SLG%, .560 OB%, 1.385 OPS in 2020
• Hit MT's only grand slam of 2020 against Houston Baptist
Mia Marinakis, 1B/P, Jr., Murrieta, California
• Also pitches for the Blue Raiders
• .222 BA in 54 plate appearances, 1 HR, 8 RBIs in 2020
• 2.51 ERA, 1.31 WHIP led team in 2020; second with 14 appearances, 47.1 IP, 22 strikeouts
• Transferred in 2020 to MT from Cal State Fullerton
Gracie Kirby, 3B/1B, Jr., Murfreesboro (Oakland High School)
• Played in 9 games, 3 starts, .333 BA, .533 SLG%, 5 H, 3 2B, 5 RBI in 2020
• Missed freshman season in 2019 due to preseason injury
Danielle Taitt, 1B/P, Fr., Snellville, Georgia
• Also pitches for the Blue Raiders
• Gwinnett County Softball Super 6, All-State Senior Team in 2019, four-time all-county
Amaya Harris, SS/2B, Fr., Stockbridge, Georgia
• C-USA's top-ranked signee in the 2020 class according to Extra Elite 100 (No. 74 overall)
• Team captain 3 years at Dutchtown High School
Nahri Tath-Slezak, SS, Fr., Fontana, California
• First Team All-Citrus Belt 3 times; Citrus Belt MVP in 2019
• Played travel ball for SoCal Athletics
Players Mentioned
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1B
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3B
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SS/2B
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3B
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P/1B
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UT
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2B/3B
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P/1B
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