Middle Tennessee State University Athletics
Middle Tennessee
2-2
Murray State
1-2
Raiders Fall to Old Rival Murray State
2/24/2021 8:00:00 PM | Baseball
The Blue Raiders (2-2), playing their fourth game in three days, fell in a hole early against the Racers (1-2) and couldn't dig out of it, losing 12-7.
It was the 105th meeting between the two former Ohio Valley Conference foes since 1974. Middle Tennessee leads the series 60-45.
The Raiders responded to two game-opening Murray State runs in the top of the first with two scores of their own in the bottom of the frame. The tie didn't last long, though.
MT gave up three runs in the second and another one in the third to fall down 6-2, and while it got one score back in the bottom of the fourth, the Racers countered with a four-run sixth, pushing the lead to 10-3.
The Blue Raiders were able to close the gap with three runs in the sixth and another in the eighth, but they couldn't find enough quality at-bats in crucial moments to climb all the way back. They finished 3-for-12 with runners in scoring position and left 11 runners on base.
Designated Hitter DJ Wright continued a strong start to the season at the plate with a 3-for-5 day, hitting his first home run of the season and driving in three runs while scoring twice. He also pitched 2.1 innings, giving up three earned runs while striking out five against no walks.
Wright is 6-for-14 so far this season with a team-high five RBIs and four runs scored.
Fausto Lopez and Nathan Sanders also had multi-hit games, and Gabe Jennings hit the first home run of his college career, a solo shot, finishing 1-for-4.
Middle Tennessee used six pitchers. Redshirt senior Walker Armstrong, who transferred last season from Cal State Northridge, made his first start for MT.
The Blue Raiders will keep their homestand going with a three-game weekend series against Bowling Green starting Friday at 3 p.m.
For more updates on the Blue Raiders, be sure to follow us on Twitter (@MT_Baseball), Facebook (Blue Raider Baseball) and Instagram (@MT_Baseball).
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: NARANJO, Jordyn (1-0)
L: Armstrong, Walker (0-1)
Batting:
2B: SLUNDER, Jake 1 ; BLOOMER, Bryson 2 ; SCHAD, Wes 1 ; CRUMP, Alex 1
HR: PERKINS, Ryan 1
RBI: BLOOMER, Bryson 4 ; PERKINS, Ryan 4 ; MCCULLOUGH, Brennan 2 ; CRUMP, Alex 1
SH: HOLLY, Jordan 1
SF: SLUNDER, Jake 1
Base Running:
RUNS: SLUNDER, Jake 2 ; BLOOMER, Bryson 4 ; PERKINS, Ryan 1 ; COZART, Jordan 1 ; MCCULLOUGH, Brennan 1 ; PENNINGTON, Jacob 1 ; CRUMP, Alex 1 ; HOLLY, Jordan 1
Batting:
2B: Thomas, Brycen 1
HR: Wright, DJ 1 ; Jennings, Gabe 1
RBI: Lopez, Fausto 1 ; Engel, Mark 1 ; Wright, DJ 3 ; Thomas, Brycen 1 ; Jennings, Gabe 1
SF: Engel, Mark 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Lopez, Fausto 1 ; Wright, DJ 2 ; Jennings, Gabe 2 ; Speirs, Mason 1 ; Dillingham, Brian 1
SB: Lopez, Fausto 3 ; Sanders, Nathan 1
HBP: Sanders, Nathan 1
