Middle Tennesee State University Athletics
Saturday, February 13
Leesburg, FL
3:00 PM
Middle Tennessee
1-2
1
vs
2
Liberty
3-0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
R
H
E
Liberty
0
1
0
0
0
0
1
2
3
3
Middle Tennessee
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
1
2
0
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: KEENEY, Karlie (2-0)
L: Baldwin, Amber (1-1)
Batting:
RBI: SWEAT, Emily 1 ; WILSON, Mary Claire 1
SH: CANETTO, Kara 1
Base Running:
RUNS: GIBSON, Blake 1 ; CANETTO, Kara 1
SB: CANETTO, Kara 1 ; WILSON, Mary Claire 1
HBP: GIBSON, Blake 1
Batting:
RBI: Tath-Slezak, Nahri 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Smith, Claire 1
CS: Tath-Slezak, Nahri 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
3
R
0
H
1
RBI
1
AB
3
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
2
R
0
H
0
RBI
0
AB
3
R
0
H
0
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
P
/ Softball
SS
/ Softball
P/1B
/ Softball
OF/2B
/ SoftballSS
/ Softball
Flames push past MT in late innings of pitching duel
2/13/2021 6:17:00 PM | Softball
LEESBURG, Fla. — A seventh inning Liberty (3-0) run lifted the Flames over Middle Tennessee (1-2) on a rain-soaked second day of The Spring Games.
MIDDLE TENNESSEE 1, (RV) LIBERTY 2
» The pitching duel started immediately, as both teams went down in order in the first inning.
» Liberty struck first with an RBI single in the second inning after a sacrifice bunt moved the leadoff runner to second base.
» The Blue Raiders answered, however, as a Nahri Tath-Slezak single brought Claire Smith around to score in the bottom of the third.
» Both teams went down in order in the fourth and fifth innings, then MT had a chance to score in the sixth. The Blue Raiders had bases loaded with one out in the sixth but couldn't push a run across.
» Liberty answered in the top of the seventh with a two-out RBI single that scored the winning run.
» Tath-Slezak and Mia Marinakis were the only two Blue Raiders to earn a hit in the loss.
» Amber Baldwin was in the circle all seven innings for MT, giving up only three hits and fanning three Flames.
» Summer Burgess recorded career at bat No. 659 in the third inning, passing Melanie Manley (1997-2000) for the most at bats in a Middle Tennessee uniform.
» The Blue Raiders were originally slated to play Pitt and New Mexico State on Saturday, but an early morning thunderstorm pushed the start of play back. The Spring Games officials rearranged the tournament schedule to pit MT against the Panthers and later against Liberty. When it came time for first pitch between MT and Pitt, bad field conditions caused that game to be canceled. As a result of the tournament's scheduling changes Saturday morning, The Spring Games determined Middle Tennessee will play a doubleheader against New Mexico State on Sunday, with action beginning at 9 a.m. CT.
QUOTES FROM THE BLUE RAIDERS
» Head Coach Jeff Breeden on how his team performed despite the weather and scheduling challenges and unknowns: "Our kids handled the weather and scheduling adversity today extremely well. We were very focused on the task at hand in our game vs. Liberty, and they were prepared to play a high-caliber team. I'm really pleased with our team's preparation and leadership from our older players."
» Breeden on another stellar outing by senior pitcher Amber Baldwin: "Baldwin was lights out today. I'm disappointed in our offense because we wasted a complete game gem from her today. Amber's had very good command of her pitches early, and she's mixing them well. She's looking comfortable in the circle right now. I'm just really proud of my team's effort and grit today. They're winners inside, and they have great heart."
» Right fielder Nahri Tath-Slezak on the adjustments she's made to playing at the next level: "The adjustment I've made is that whatever I do on the field is for the team. Mentally, I had to stay positive throughout this game and stay focused."
» Tath-Slezak on scoring Claire Smith with a two-out single in the third inning: "It was kind of nerve-wracking because I just tried to do my thing and try to make something happen for Claire to score. I felt so hyped that she was able to score that inning."
NEXT UP
» Middle Tennessee vs. New Mexico State — Sunday, Feb. 14, 9 and 11:30 a.m. CT
Follow the Blue Raiders on Twitter (@MT_Softball), Facebook (Blue Raider Softball) and Instagram (@mt_softball).
MIDDLE TENNESSEE 1, (RV) LIBERTY 2
» The pitching duel started immediately, as both teams went down in order in the first inning.
» Liberty struck first with an RBI single in the second inning after a sacrifice bunt moved the leadoff runner to second base.
» The Blue Raiders answered, however, as a Nahri Tath-Slezak single brought Claire Smith around to score in the bottom of the third.
» Both teams went down in order in the fourth and fifth innings, then MT had a chance to score in the sixth. The Blue Raiders had bases loaded with one out in the sixth but couldn't push a run across.
» Liberty answered in the top of the seventh with a two-out RBI single that scored the winning run.
» Tath-Slezak and Mia Marinakis were the only two Blue Raiders to earn a hit in the loss.
» Amber Baldwin was in the circle all seven innings for MT, giving up only three hits and fanning three Flames.
» Summer Burgess recorded career at bat No. 659 in the third inning, passing Melanie Manley (1997-2000) for the most at bats in a Middle Tennessee uniform.
» The Blue Raiders were originally slated to play Pitt and New Mexico State on Saturday, but an early morning thunderstorm pushed the start of play back. The Spring Games officials rearranged the tournament schedule to pit MT against the Panthers and later against Liberty. When it came time for first pitch between MT and Pitt, bad field conditions caused that game to be canceled. As a result of the tournament's scheduling changes Saturday morning, The Spring Games determined Middle Tennessee will play a doubleheader against New Mexico State on Sunday, with action beginning at 9 a.m. CT.
QUOTES FROM THE BLUE RAIDERS
» Head Coach Jeff Breeden on how his team performed despite the weather and scheduling challenges and unknowns: "Our kids handled the weather and scheduling adversity today extremely well. We were very focused on the task at hand in our game vs. Liberty, and they were prepared to play a high-caliber team. I'm really pleased with our team's preparation and leadership from our older players."
» Breeden on another stellar outing by senior pitcher Amber Baldwin: "Baldwin was lights out today. I'm disappointed in our offense because we wasted a complete game gem from her today. Amber's had very good command of her pitches early, and she's mixing them well. She's looking comfortable in the circle right now. I'm just really proud of my team's effort and grit today. They're winners inside, and they have great heart."
» Right fielder Nahri Tath-Slezak on the adjustments she's made to playing at the next level: "The adjustment I've made is that whatever I do on the field is for the team. Mentally, I had to stay positive throughout this game and stay focused."
» Tath-Slezak on scoring Claire Smith with a two-out single in the third inning: "It was kind of nerve-wracking because I just tried to do my thing and try to make something happen for Claire to score. I felt so hyped that she was able to score that inning."
NEXT UP
» Middle Tennessee vs. New Mexico State — Sunday, Feb. 14, 9 and 11:30 a.m. CT
Follow the Blue Raiders on Twitter (@MT_Softball), Facebook (Blue Raider Softball) and Instagram (@mt_softball).
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