Brown Reaches 100 Strikeouts in 3-0 Shutout of FIU

Friday, May 14

Murfreesboro, TN

6:00 PM

Middle Tennessee

22-25-1, 0

FIU

18-29, 0

FIU

Middle Tennessee

5/14/2021 9:45:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

By: @MTAthletics

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — Middle Tennessee (22-25-1, 11-17-1) starter Aaron Brown knew in the back of his mind he had a chance to have perhaps the biggest impact on the Blue Raiders' season Friday night against the FIU Panthers (18-29, 9-18).

The right-hander has played a crucial role in helping the Blue Raiders get into position for a possible Conference USA Tournament berth, heading up one of the most successful starting pitching rotations the program has seen over the past few seasons. In big-time games, it's hard to argue against him being the man to take the ball.

That's how the Mt. Juliet native approached his final start of the regular season, even with a chance to make history looming in the back of his mind.

In the top of the second inning with one out, Brown blew a mid-90s fastball past FIU right fielder Seth Cannady, and the crowd at Reese Smith Field erupted. It was the 100 th strikeout of the season for Brown, making him the eighth Blue Raider to accomplish that feat, but, more importantly, it was the first big moment for him in one of his most dominant starts of the season that led his team to a 3-0 win and the Blue Raiders fourth shutout victory of the year.

"(The 100 strikeout mark) means a lot to me, Brown said. "It's a goal I set for myself each year I pitch. I did it back in JUCO and this year I really wanted to do it again. I try not to think about it too much during the game, but once I hit it during the game it felt good. I told myself to keep doing my thing and everything will play out."

The subject of many stories this season, Brown stole the show again Friday night by going 8.0 innings and registering 11 strikeouts against no walks. It was the fifth time this season Brown has struck out at least 10 in a game, also a team high.

"We expected Aaron to be our number one guy this year," said Middle Tennessee Head Coach Jim Toman. "He was really good in high school and pitched at Vanderbilt before going the JUCO route. He led the state of Florida in JUCO in strikeouts and tonight he had 11 strikeouts and no walks. We didn't have any errors and executed well behind him."

His current 107 strikeouts place him sixth on the program's all-time leaderboard for strikeouts in a season. He passed Steve Sonneberger (102 in 1986) and Chris Crabtree (103 in 1990) Friday.

"After last weekend's outing didn't go as well, I knew this week's work would have to double," Brown said. "My bullpen (this week) with Coach Bunn went well and I came out and told myself to throw strikes. Coach Bunn called a great game and we located pitches and Zoz shut the door."

Offensively, Middle Tennessee got Brown an early lead with some small-ball success. In the bottom of the second, a safety squeeze by JT Mabry plated designated hitter DJ Wright for the game's first run, and Fausto Lopez scored on a double-steal of home an inning later. With Brett Coker on first, Lopez broke for second and coaxed a throw over from FIU starter Garrett Rukes to first baseman Adrian Figueroa, who threw over toward second base to try and nab Coker.

"I'm proud of the guys," Toman said. "Aaron Brown was incredible tonight and we executed a few hit-and-runs, an early steal and a safety squeeze. The guys definitely executed."

As soon as Figueroa let go of the ball, Lopez broke for the plate and slid in just under the tag to give MT a 2-0 lead heading into the fourth.

With two outs in the bottom of the sixth inning, first baseman Daniel Freeman drew a walk and set things up for Cole Escher, who hit a towering fly ball to center field that got lost in the lights for an RBI double to extend the MT lead to 3-0.

Escher had one of the most notable performances offensively for Middle Tennessee. The right fielder finished the night 2-for-4 with an RBI. Lopez went 1-for-3 and scored a run, and Wright also went 1-for-3 with a run.

David Zoz entered the game in the ninth and struck out the side to shut the door on the Panthers and earn his sixth save of the season. Zoz will be honored on senior day Saturday along with teammates Jake Hagenow and Walker Armstrong. Wright, Josh Young, Justin Medlin, Drew Vaden, Escher, Brycen Thomas, Zach Keenan, Adam Link and Austin Dennis, who left the program after he was drafted by the Houston Astros in 2019, were recognized Friday as recent graduates.

Middle Tennessee will play its final doubleheader of the season Saturday. Games two and three of the four-game set against the Panthers will get underway from Reese Smith Jr. Field at 1 p.m. It will also be National Armed Forces Day.

"We'll continue to take it one game at a time," Toman said. "We need to go ahead and win at least one more game to solidify ourselves a spot in the tournament. If we can get that win, we'll have a chance to play in the postseason, and that's what college baseball's all about."

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Anthony Fiorella is a writer for goblueraiders.com. Follow him on Twitter @a_fiorella74 and also follow @MTAthletics for more on the Blue Raiders