Middle Tennessee State University Athletics
Three-Run Eighth Inning Pushed MT Past Rice
4/1/2021 6:17:00 PM | Baseball
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — A costly late-inning mistake helped the Middle Tennessee baseball team win its Conference USA home opener Thursday. The Blue Raiders (14-10, C-USA 3-2) and Rice (12-13, C-USA 1-4) took a 1-1 tie into the eighth inning before MT capitalized on a misplayed fly ball in left center field, allowing three runners to score with two outs in a 4-1 final.
"We got some good at-bats when we needed them," Middle Tennessee head coach Jim Toman said. "We ended up making two errors, which is unlike us … but we found a way to win today."
It looked as if extra innings were coming with two outs in the bottom of the eighth.
Middle Tennessee had the bases loaded when center fielder Nathan Sanders stepped to the dish. On a 2-0 count, the left hander hit a slicing fly ball to left center that looked like an easy play for the left fielder. The Owl let his center fielder try to make a diving snag, though, and the ball fell to the grass with the Blue Raiders motoring around the bases.
All three runners came around to give MT the decisive 4-1 lead, while Sanders ended up on second base with a double and the three RBIs.
"We figured out a way to load the bases, and the wind took the ball Nate hit away from the center fielder a little bit and they got a little confused out there," Toman said. "He put the ball in play, and I'm proud of him."
Right-hander Aaron Brown got the start on the bump for the Raiders, and the ace didn't disappoint.
The junior dominated in complete-game fashion, only giving up a single two-out run in the sixth. He allowed two hits and a walk while striking out nine. He's now 4-2 this season with two complete games.
Going into the day, Brown ranked second in C-USA and tied for eighth in the country with 52 strikeouts.
"That's what we expect out of Aaron Brown, and he's been good for us all year," Toman said. "There aren't too many complete games in college baseball, but he got it done. … When you throw strikes, you always have a chance.
"That might've been his best outing today."
Shortstop Fausto Lopez gave MT its first run of the day on a wild pitch in the third. He went 1-for-3 with a run scored, while Cole Escher had two hits and also scored.
The Blue Raiders will have two more chances to beat Rice Friday. The doubleheader from Reese Smith Jr. Field will start at 1 p.m.
