Late FIU Rally Downs MT 11-9 in Extras

Sunday, May 16

Murfreesboro, TN

1:00 PM

Middle Tennessee

23-27-1, 0

FIU

20-30, 0

FIU

Middle Tennessee

5/16/2021 6:14:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score @MT_Baseball vs FIU Series Highlight

By: Anthony Fiorella

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — After trailing for a majority of Sunday's game with Middle Tennessee (23-27-1, 12-19-1), FIU (20-30, 11-19) mounted a late comeback, scoring three runs in the ninth, a run in the 11th and two in the 12th to defeat the Blue Raiders 11-9 and split the series.

"Give credit to FIU for not quitting in a game that didn't mean much to them," Toman said. "We competed. We didn't use our regular bullpen guys because we wanted to save them. The positive today is we had 13 hits and nine runs, we just didn't do enough in the late innings."

After going a total of 10 innings in yesterday's doubleheaders without scoring a run, Middle Tennessee State caught fire in yesterday afternoon's postseason-clinching win over the FIU Panthers when they scored five runs over the final two innings.

The Blue Raiders wasted no time getting the bats going on Sunday, plating four runs in the opening frame and a total of seven through the first four innings.

Some of the regulars in the lineup received a much-needed day off on Sunday with the Blue Raiders already having the final spot in the Conference USA tournament secured. Gabe Jennings got the start at third base, Bryce Symlar in left field, Jacob Williams at first base, Luke Vinson in center field, Brian Dillingham in right field and Jake Hagenow at catcher.

It proved to be the right set of guys being inserted to the lineup if you look at the numbers.

In the four-run first, Gabe Jennings collected an RBI on a sac-fly and Brian Dillingham hit his second home run of the season, a three-run shot to left field to cap off the impressive first frame.

An inning later, Luke Vinson reached on a bunt single and veteran catcher Jake Hagenow brought him around to score on an RBI double to put the Blue Raiders ahead 5-2 heading into the third inning.

Hagenow also threw out a man attempting to steal third and finished the afternoon 2-for-3 with two RBIs and two doubles while also reaching on a hit by pitch in the 60th and maybe final start of his career.

Aside from Hagenow's impressive afternoon, Gabe Jennings also had a productive afternoon, going 1-for-3 with two RBIs on a pair of sacrifice flies and had double to his credit.

Freshman Luke Vinson ended the day 2-for-5 with two runs scored, a walk and improved his season average to .283 in 46 at-bats this year.

"It was good to see 13 hits on the board," Toman said. "We got some guys in the [lineup] that haven't played a whole lot this year and they did well."

Offensively, the Blue Raiders amassed 13 hits and freshman Bryce Symlar stole a pair of bases.

Freshman Eriq Swan made his first career start for Middle Tennessee, going 4.0 innings and allowing two earned runs. For Swan, it was his 11th appearance of the year. The right-hander collected five strikeouts and had just one walk.

Left-hander Drew Vaden came on in relief of Swan in the fifth inning, making his fifth appearance of the year. The junior pitched a scoreless fifth inning and had a strikeout in his inning of work.

Fellow lefty Justin Medlin came on in the sixth and recorded just one out before giving way to Austin Cheeley, who got out of the inning after a two-run home run pulled FIU to within two runs at 7-5.

Cheeley wound up going 2.2 innings, holding the Panthers scoreless and striking out four.

Adam Link entered in the ninth inning and FIU tied the game, but DJ Wright got the innings final out, stranding the winning run on third. The two-way player left the bases loaded and didn't allow a run in the 10th, giving his team a chance to win it in extra innings.

Josh Young was the seventh and final pitcher of the afternoon for MT, allowing one earned run in the final two innings of play.

Middle Tennessee is set to play the final game of the regular season on Tuesday against Murray State on the road. First pitch Tuesday night is scheduled for 5 p.m. from Johnny Reagan Field.

"We're going to practice tomorrow and head to Murray on Tuesday," Toman said. "We'll try to see if we can get a team here next weekend to play, but if not we'll be practicing an awful lot [before the C-USA Tournament]."

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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