Middle Tennessee State University Athletics
Wednesday, March 16
Murfreesboro, TN
5:00 PM
Middle Tennessee
vs
Austin Peay
Blue Raiders host Austin Peay for home midweek matchup
3/15/2022 3:32:00 PM | Softball
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – Middle Tennessee Softball (11-14) continues its nine-game homestand on Wednesday, March 16 as the Blue Raiders host the Austin Peay Governors (13-10) for a midweek matchup at 5 p.m. at Blue Raider Softball Field.
The matchup will be broadcast on CUSA.TV and through live stats, which can be found here.
Quick Hits
The Blue Raiders opened their home slate last week, hosting the MTSU Invitational on Thursday and Friday. Middle Tennessee split their contests over the two-day tournament, falling against UNI 5-0 in their home-opener, but earning a 4-3 comeback win over the UT Martin Skyhawks to finish off the opening day. The Blue Raiders then secured their second shutout of the season against Illinois State, 3-0, before falling in their MTSU Invitational finale, 3-1, against Chattanooga.
The Blue Raiders
Middle Tennessee Softball is coming off its home-opening week that saw the Blue Raiders go 2-2. The Blue Raiders opened the week against UNI, falling 5-0, but bounced back to earn a 4-3 win over UT Martin, marking Coach Breeden's 200th career victory. The Blue Raiders then won their second straight, shutting out Illinois State, 3-0, who had thrown a perfect game the game right before against UT Martin. Middle Tennessee then closed out its MTSU Invitational against Chattanooga, falling in a 3-1 battle with the Mocs.
Mealer leads the Blue Raiders so far this season, batting a team second-best .347, including five doubles and a team-high three home runs. She is tied for the team-lead in hits with 26 and has scored a team-high 18 runs. Mealer is also second on the team in RBIs with 10 and is a perfect 6-for-6 on stolen bases this season. Fellow freshman Anyce Harvey leads the Blue Raiders with 19 RBIs this season, including a team-best nine doubles and one triple, while batting a .333 and leading the team in slugging with a .563 average.
Dodd leads the Blue Raiders with 47 innings pitched this season, while fellow senior Gretchen Mead and Woods have posted a team-low 2.36 ERA in 32.2 and 35.2 innings pitched, respectively. Dodd has fanned a team-high 32 batters this season and has allowed 28 runs on 43 hits. Both Dodds and Woods have recorded complete-game shutouts this season, while Dodd leads the team with five complete games so far during the 2022 campaign.
Scouting the Competition
Austin Peay is in its fourth season under head coach Kassie Stanfill, who has led the Governors to an 84-60 record during her time in Clarksville.
The Govs are just coming off the Jacksonville State Invite, which the Governors finished 1-3. Austin Peay dropped a pair of contests on the opening day of the two-day tournament, falling 4-2 against Samford and then 7-2 against host Jacksonville State. The Govs were able to bounce back in their first contest of the day on Friday, defeating Samford 6-4, but fell in their finale, 3-2, against the JSU Gamecocks.
Lexi Osowski leads the Govs, batting .457 with a team-high 32 hits, including a team-high seven doubles, tied for the team lead in triples with two, and tied for second on the team with three home runs this year. She is third for Austin Peay in runs with 18, and third for the Govs in RBIs with 18. Brooke Pfefferle and Mea Clark lead the Govs in RBIs with 19, while Clark has hit a team-leading five home runs so far in 2022.
On the mound, the Govs are led by Jordan Benefiel, who has pitched a team-high 74.2 innings and holds a team-low 2.34 ERA. Benefiel has posted a 6-4 record with 15 appearances this season. She has threw eight complete games, including a shutout, and has allowed 35 runs on 76 hits, and has fanned a team-high 57 batters during the 2022 campaign.
Series History
Middle Tennessee Softball holds the all-time series lead over Austin Peay, 35-18. The Blue Raiders own a 18-6 record for contests played at Blue Raider Softball Field and Middle Tennessee won the last meeting between the two programs in Clarksville, 3-2, on April 28, 2021.
Up Next
The Blue Raiders open their C-USA slate this weekend as they host the Southern Miss Golden Eagles for a three-game series on Friday, March 18 at 6 p.m., Saturday, March 19 at 4 p.m., and Sunday March 20 at noon 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).
The matchup will be broadcast on CUSA.TV and through live stats, which can be found here.
Quick Hits
- Head coach Jeff Breeden won his 200th career game last Thursday in a 4-3 victory over the UT Martin Skyhawks. Coach Breeden has helped lead the Blue Raiders to a 201-283 record over his decade-long career at Middle Tennessee. The current 2022 season also marks the 10th season for coach Breeden at Middle Tennessee.
- The Blue Raiders opened their home slate last week, hosting the MTSU Invitational on Thursday and Friday. Middle Tennessee split their contests over the two-day tournament, falling against UNI 5-0 in their home-opener, but earning a 4-3 comeback win over the UT Martin Skyhawks to finish off the opening day. The Blue Raiders then secured their second shutout of the season against Illinois State, 3-0, before falling in their MTSU Invitational finale, 3-1, against Chattanooga.
- Freshman Claire Woods pitched her first career complete-game shutout during the Blue Raiders 3-0 victory over Illinois State, allowing just four hits and only walking three in seven innings of work.
- Freshman Laura Mealer connected on her third home run, first multi-run shot, and second game-winning hit of the season to lift the Blue Raiders to a 4-3 win against the UT Martin Skyhawks.
- Senior Corrina Dodd and junior Kelci Hill were named to the preseason C-USA All-Conference Team on Tuesday, February 8.
- The Blue Raiders were selected sixth in the C-USA preseason coaches' poll, behind Charlotte, North Texas, WKU, UAB, and Marshall, which placed first through fifth, respectively.
- The Blue Raiders return 13 starters, while adding seven impressive freshmen to bolster the Blue Raiders' 2022 lineup.
- Despite losing seven starters, the Blue Raiders add plenty of talent, from a solid seven-player freshman class, to build a solid lineup for the 2022 season.
The Blue Raiders opened their home slate last week, hosting the MTSU Invitational on Thursday and Friday. Middle Tennessee split their contests over the two-day tournament, falling against UNI 5-0 in their home-opener, but earning a 4-3 comeback win over the UT Martin Skyhawks to finish off the opening day. The Blue Raiders then secured their second shutout of the season against Illinois State, 3-0, before falling in their MTSU Invitational finale, 3-1, against Chattanooga.
The Blue Raiders
Middle Tennessee Softball is coming off its home-opening week that saw the Blue Raiders go 2-2. The Blue Raiders opened the week against UNI, falling 5-0, but bounced back to earn a 4-3 win over UT Martin, marking Coach Breeden's 200th career victory. The Blue Raiders then won their second straight, shutting out Illinois State, 3-0, who had thrown a perfect game the game right before against UT Martin. Middle Tennessee then closed out its MTSU Invitational against Chattanooga, falling in a 3-1 battle with the Mocs.
Mealer leads the Blue Raiders so far this season, batting a team second-best .347, including five doubles and a team-high three home runs. She is tied for the team-lead in hits with 26 and has scored a team-high 18 runs. Mealer is also second on the team in RBIs with 10 and is a perfect 6-for-6 on stolen bases this season. Fellow freshman Anyce Harvey leads the Blue Raiders with 19 RBIs this season, including a team-best nine doubles and one triple, while batting a .333 and leading the team in slugging with a .563 average.
Dodd leads the Blue Raiders with 47 innings pitched this season, while fellow senior Gretchen Mead and Woods have posted a team-low 2.36 ERA in 32.2 and 35.2 innings pitched, respectively. Dodd has fanned a team-high 32 batters this season and has allowed 28 runs on 43 hits. Both Dodds and Woods have recorded complete-game shutouts this season, while Dodd leads the team with five complete games so far during the 2022 campaign.
Scouting the Competition
Austin Peay is in its fourth season under head coach Kassie Stanfill, who has led the Governors to an 84-60 record during her time in Clarksville.
The Govs are just coming off the Jacksonville State Invite, which the Governors finished 1-3. Austin Peay dropped a pair of contests on the opening day of the two-day tournament, falling 4-2 against Samford and then 7-2 against host Jacksonville State. The Govs were able to bounce back in their first contest of the day on Friday, defeating Samford 6-4, but fell in their finale, 3-2, against the JSU Gamecocks.
Lexi Osowski leads the Govs, batting .457 with a team-high 32 hits, including a team-high seven doubles, tied for the team lead in triples with two, and tied for second on the team with three home runs this year. She is third for Austin Peay in runs with 18, and third for the Govs in RBIs with 18. Brooke Pfefferle and Mea Clark lead the Govs in RBIs with 19, while Clark has hit a team-leading five home runs so far in 2022.
On the mound, the Govs are led by Jordan Benefiel, who has pitched a team-high 74.2 innings and holds a team-low 2.34 ERA. Benefiel has posted a 6-4 record with 15 appearances this season. She has threw eight complete games, including a shutout, and has allowed 35 runs on 76 hits, and has fanned a team-high 57 batters during the 2022 campaign.
Series History
Middle Tennessee Softball holds the all-time series lead over Austin Peay, 35-18. The Blue Raiders own a 18-6 record for contests played at Blue Raider Softball Field and Middle Tennessee won the last meeting between the two programs in Clarksville, 3-2, on April 28, 2021.
Up Next
The Blue Raiders open their C-USA slate this weekend as they host the Southern Miss Golden Eagles for a three-game series on Friday, March 18 at 6 p.m., Saturday, March 19 at 4 p.m., and Sunday March 20 at noon 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
P
/ Softball
OF/UT
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
SS/2B
/ Softball
P/3B
/ SoftballFacility tour – Stephen and Denise Smith Student-Athlete Performance Center
Wednesday, July 30
Spring Sports Show hosted by The Boulevard – April 21, 2025: Softball and Baseball
Monday, April 21
MTSU Softball vs WKU Recap 4/11-13/25
Monday, April 14
MTSU Softball vs WKU Recap 4/11-13/25 2025
Monday, April 14
