Middle Tennessee State University Athletics
Saturday, October 1
Murfreesboro, TN
2:00 PM
Middle Tennessee
vs
Trevecca Nazarene University
Photo by: Braydin Sik/ MT Athletic Communications
Blue Raiders Return to Action with Games this Weekend
10/1/2022 10:55:00 AM | Softball
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – After opening their fall campaign with a 6-5 win over Vol State on Wednesday night, the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders continue the 2022-23 slate with a pair of games this weekend against Trevecca Nazarene University and Jackson State Community College.
MTSU leaned on clutch hitting and strong pitching down the stretch in its first of eight 10-inning games this fall. Kamryn Carcich gave the Raiders two and 2/3 shutout frames from the circle, while also contributing a ninth-inning RBI before Abby Shoulders drove in the go-ahead runs an at bat later. Graduate student pitcher Gretchen Mead closed the game for Middle Tennessee with a pair of no-run innings.
The Blue Raiders now turn their attention to Division II foe Trevecca for a 2 p.m. matchup on Saturday at Blue Raider Softball Field, before they're back Sunday at the same time and location to face Jackson State.
MTSU returns 10 players from last year's team, including pitcher Mead. The graduate student from Kingwood, Tex. Is the longest-tenured member of the Blue Raider roster, and the sole player older than a junior. Mead led the '22 pitching staff in appearances with 28, and will co-headline this year's corps of pitcher alongside fellow returners Keri Munn and Claire Woods.
Middle infielder Laura Mealer is back after posting a team-high .350 batting average, 1.034 OPS and 10 home runs in 2022. The Chapel Hill, Ten. native started in all 53 games a season ago as a freshman. With a year of experience under her belt now, Mealer takes the reins of a batting order that also returns each of its next two top hitters from last season. Fellow sophomore Anyce Harvey hit .326 in 2021, while junior Amaya Harris brings her .314 AVG and 50 hits into the fall season from a year ago.
The Blue Raiders also bring in nine newcomers. Transfers C/3B Julia Garcia (Maryland-Eastern Shore), P Carcich (Murray State), 2B Shelby Echols (Houston Baptist) and OF Savannah Behabetz (Incarnate Word) are all expected to immediately contribute and compete for spots in the lineup.
In addition, Middle Tennessee welcomes a five-member freshman class. P Paige Conners comes to Murfreesboro from Lake Travis, Tex., and will be the sole lefty in the Blue Raider pitching staff. C Ansley Blevins is set to be a second-generation MTSU student-athlete; her mother played volleyball for the Raiders from 1992-95.
OF Lexi Medlock joins the Middle Tennessee roster from Murfreesboro's Siegel High School, 1B Riley Gilmore will look to lend her power to the batting order, while SS Julia Sitterding will seek to provide depth to the middle infield.
Head coach Jeff Breeden returns for his 11th season at MTSU in 2023, and assistant coach Tony Foti is back for his 10th campaign. Together, Breeden and Foti led the Blue Raiders to a 26-22 record in 2021, including an 11-8 mark in Conference USA action.
Middle Tennessee also welcomes the newest member of its coaching staff, Helen Peña. The graduate of California Polytechnic State University comes to Rutherford County from the University of Memphis, where she spent the previous five years on the Tigers' staff.
After this weekend, MTSU will next be in action on Wednesday, Oct. 5 against Bevill State Community College. First pitch of that matchup is slated for 4 p.m. at Blue Raider Softball Field.
Follow the Blue Raiders
Follow Middle Tennessee Softball on social media on Facebook (/BlueRaiderSoftball), Twitter (MT_Softball) and Instagram (MT_Softball).
MTSU leaned on clutch hitting and strong pitching down the stretch in its first of eight 10-inning games this fall. Kamryn Carcich gave the Raiders two and 2/3 shutout frames from the circle, while also contributing a ninth-inning RBI before Abby Shoulders drove in the go-ahead runs an at bat later. Graduate student pitcher Gretchen Mead closed the game for Middle Tennessee with a pair of no-run innings.
The Blue Raiders now turn their attention to Division II foe Trevecca for a 2 p.m. matchup on Saturday at Blue Raider Softball Field, before they're back Sunday at the same time and location to face Jackson State.
MTSU returns 10 players from last year's team, including pitcher Mead. The graduate student from Kingwood, Tex. Is the longest-tenured member of the Blue Raider roster, and the sole player older than a junior. Mead led the '22 pitching staff in appearances with 28, and will co-headline this year's corps of pitcher alongside fellow returners Keri Munn and Claire Woods.
Middle infielder Laura Mealer is back after posting a team-high .350 batting average, 1.034 OPS and 10 home runs in 2022. The Chapel Hill, Ten. native started in all 53 games a season ago as a freshman. With a year of experience under her belt now, Mealer takes the reins of a batting order that also returns each of its next two top hitters from last season. Fellow sophomore Anyce Harvey hit .326 in 2021, while junior Amaya Harris brings her .314 AVG and 50 hits into the fall season from a year ago.
The Blue Raiders also bring in nine newcomers. Transfers C/3B Julia Garcia (Maryland-Eastern Shore), P Carcich (Murray State), 2B Shelby Echols (Houston Baptist) and OF Savannah Behabetz (Incarnate Word) are all expected to immediately contribute and compete for spots in the lineup.
In addition, Middle Tennessee welcomes a five-member freshman class. P Paige Conners comes to Murfreesboro from Lake Travis, Tex., and will be the sole lefty in the Blue Raider pitching staff. C Ansley Blevins is set to be a second-generation MTSU student-athlete; her mother played volleyball for the Raiders from 1992-95.
OF Lexi Medlock joins the Middle Tennessee roster from Murfreesboro's Siegel High School, 1B Riley Gilmore will look to lend her power to the batting order, while SS Julia Sitterding will seek to provide depth to the middle infield.
Head coach Jeff Breeden returns for his 11th season at MTSU in 2023, and assistant coach Tony Foti is back for his 10th campaign. Together, Breeden and Foti led the Blue Raiders to a 26-22 record in 2021, including an 11-8 mark in Conference USA action.
Middle Tennessee also welcomes the newest member of its coaching staff, Helen Peña. The graduate of California Polytechnic State University comes to Rutherford County from the University of Memphis, where she spent the previous five years on the Tigers' staff.
After this weekend, MTSU will next be in action on Wednesday, Oct. 5 against Bevill State Community College. First pitch of that matchup is slated for 4 p.m. at Blue Raider Softball Field.
Follow the Blue Raiders
Follow Middle Tennessee Softball on social media on Facebook (/BlueRaiderSoftball), Twitter (MT_Softball) and Instagram (MT_Softball).
Players Mentioned
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