Middle Tennessee State University Athletics
Raiders Split Doubleheader, Clinch Series
2/23/2021 8:21:00 PM | Baseball
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — After having a tough time cracking the opposing pitching staff in the first game of its doubleheader against visiting Oakland Tuesday, Middle Tennessee got a valiant pitching effort to earn a series-clinching win in the rubber match.
The Golden Grizzlies (1-2) limited the Blue Raiders (2-1) to three hits in the first game, a 5-2 MT loss.
Middle Tennessee fell down 1-0 in the top of the second inning before taking a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the fifth thanks to an Oakland error and a run-scoring double by catcher Jake Hagenow.
The lead didn't last long, as the Golden Grizzlies responded with two runs in the next half inning before adding one apiece in the seventh and ninth.
Starting pitcher Peyton Wigginton and relievers Brycen Thomas and Josh Young did a good job of limiting the damage and keeping MT close — Oakland was only 3-for-22 with runners on base and 0-for-12 with runners in scoring position — but their offense couldn't do enough to get the win.
Wigginton went four innings in his first start of the season, giving up four hits and one earned run while striking out five and walking one.
"They beat us fair and square in the first game, and you have to give a lot of credit to their group," MT head coach Jim Toman said. "They played very well the first weekend of the year … but I'm proud of how our guys bounced back in the second game."
Game 2: MT 8, Oakland 1
An early lead was enough for Middle Tennessee to sneak out a series-clinching 8-1 win in the seven-inning second game behind a strong start from righty Zach Keenan.
The Blue Raiders pushed ahead 3-1 in the first inning courtesy of a two-run single from center fielder Nathan Sanders, his first two RBIs of the season, and a sacrifice fly from right fielder Mark Engel, his third RBI.
Two runs were more than enough cushion for Keenan. He gave up a single unearned run over five innings, giving up three hits and striking out seven without walking a batter.
"He stayed in the game and got better as the game went, and when you don't walk anyone, you have a chance," Toman said. "I'm proud of him … and we got to see [Trent] Siebert and [Eriq] Swan pitch well."
Southpaw Trent Siebert relieved Keenan in the sixth inning, the first appearance of his MT career, before handing the ball to freshman Murfreesboro native Eriq Swan to finish out his first career game. They were granted three runs of cushion in the bottom of the fifth and two more in the sixth and combined to hold Oakland hitless. Swan had two strikeouts.
Sanders finished 2-for-2 at the plate with four RBIs, a run scored, walk and a stolen base. Shortstop and leadoff hitter Fausto Lopez added two hits in three at bats with a walk, three runs scored and two stolen bases, and second baseman JT Mabry scored three runs with a double and two walks.
While they got the series win over Oakland, Toman is hoping to see some better results at the plate when the Blue Raiders welcome Murray State to Reese Smith Jr. Field Wednesday.
"We won the series, and it's hard in college baseball to win a series," Toman said. "We have to correct the mistakes and get better, but that was progress in the second game. … We're not where we need to be, but three games into the year, to be 2-1, it could be a lot worse."
First pitch between MT and Murray Wednesday is scheduled for 3 p.m. The Blue Raiders will then continue their season-opening homestand with three games against Bowling Green Friday-Sunday.
For more updates on the Blue Raiders, be sure to follow us on Twitter (@MT_Baseball), Facebook (Blue Raider Baseball) and Instagram (@MT_Baseball).
The Golden Grizzlies (1-2) limited the Blue Raiders (2-1) to three hits in the first game, a 5-2 MT loss.
Middle Tennessee fell down 1-0 in the top of the second inning before taking a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the fifth thanks to an Oakland error and a run-scoring double by catcher Jake Hagenow.
The lead didn't last long, as the Golden Grizzlies responded with two runs in the next half inning before adding one apiece in the seventh and ninth.
Starting pitcher Peyton Wigginton and relievers Brycen Thomas and Josh Young did a good job of limiting the damage and keeping MT close — Oakland was only 3-for-22 with runners on base and 0-for-12 with runners in scoring position — but their offense couldn't do enough to get the win.
Wigginton went four innings in his first start of the season, giving up four hits and one earned run while striking out five and walking one.
"They beat us fair and square in the first game, and you have to give a lot of credit to their group," MT head coach Jim Toman said. "They played very well the first weekend of the year … but I'm proud of how our guys bounced back in the second game."
Game 2: MT 8, Oakland 1
An early lead was enough for Middle Tennessee to sneak out a series-clinching 8-1 win in the seven-inning second game behind a strong start from righty Zach Keenan.
The Blue Raiders pushed ahead 3-1 in the first inning courtesy of a two-run single from center fielder Nathan Sanders, his first two RBIs of the season, and a sacrifice fly from right fielder Mark Engel, his third RBI.
Two runs were more than enough cushion for Keenan. He gave up a single unearned run over five innings, giving up three hits and striking out seven without walking a batter.
"He stayed in the game and got better as the game went, and when you don't walk anyone, you have a chance," Toman said. "I'm proud of him … and we got to see [Trent] Siebert and [Eriq] Swan pitch well."
Southpaw Trent Siebert relieved Keenan in the sixth inning, the first appearance of his MT career, before handing the ball to freshman Murfreesboro native Eriq Swan to finish out his first career game. They were granted three runs of cushion in the bottom of the fifth and two more in the sixth and combined to hold Oakland hitless. Swan had two strikeouts.
Sanders finished 2-for-2 at the plate with four RBIs, a run scored, walk and a stolen base. Shortstop and leadoff hitter Fausto Lopez added two hits in three at bats with a walk, three runs scored and two stolen bases, and second baseman JT Mabry scored three runs with a double and two walks.
While they got the series win over Oakland, Toman is hoping to see some better results at the plate when the Blue Raiders welcome Murray State to Reese Smith Jr. Field Wednesday.
"We won the series, and it's hard in college baseball to win a series," Toman said. "We have to correct the mistakes and get better, but that was progress in the second game. … We're not where we need to be, but three games into the year, to be 2-1, it could be a lot worse."
First pitch between MT and Murray Wednesday is scheduled for 3 p.m. The Blue Raiders will then continue their season-opening homestand with three games against Bowling Green Friday-Sunday.
For more updates on the Blue Raiders, be sure to follow us on Twitter (@MT_Baseball), Facebook (Blue Raider Baseball) and Instagram (@MT_Baseball).
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