Blue Raiders win two over Central Michigan and LIU on second day of the Spring Games

Saturday, March 5

Madeira Beach, FL

10:00 AM

Middle Tennessee

6-12

Central Michigan

5-6

Middle Tennessee

Central Michigan

3/5/2022 9:40:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

By: Jonathan Caudle, MT Athletic Communications

MADEIRA BEACH, Fla. – Middle Tennessee Softball (7-12) bounced back strong on day two of the Spring Games, defeating the Central Michigan Chippewas (5-6) in a wild 7-5 extra-innings game and then carrying that momentum into a solid 5-4 win over LIU (4-12) to close out the day.

"I was proud of the way our kids fought back today," expressed head coach Jeff Breeden. "We are hitting better but need to not strand as many base runners. This game is about timely hitting. I think Harvey is doing a great job of driving in runs and Shoulders had a very good day for us all around today!"

Middle Tennessee 7 vs. CMU 5

The Blue Raiders got to work early as Shoulders knocked a one-out single through the left side to get MT's first baserunner aboard. After Shoulders stole second, freshman Anyce Harvey connected on a one-out double to second base to plate Shoulders and give the Blue Raiders the opening 1-0 lead.

Middle Tennessee doubled its lead in the top of the third. Harris led off the Blue Raiders with a single into left center. Mealer connected on the Blue Raiders second single of the inning, knocking one through the right side to advance Harris into scoring position. The Blue Raiders produced a double steal as Mealer and Harris moved to second and third, respectively, but an error by the CMU catcher allowed Harris to cross home and extend the Blue Raiders lead to two, 2-0.

The Blue Raiders held the Chippewas without a hit through two and a half innings, but CMU was able to get one back in the bottom of the third. Following a pair of groundouts, the Chippewas drew a walk and then CMU connected on a two-out triple into right field to plate their first run of the contest and bring the Blue Raiders' lead down to one, 2-1.

It didn't take long for the Blue Raiders to respond though. Hill connected on a leadoff double and then freshman Claire Woods followed it up with a back-to-back RBI double to bring across Hill and kick the Blue Raiders lead back to two, 3-1.

Middle Tennessee maintained its two-run advantage, holding the Chippewas to only one hit through the fourth and fifth innings, however CMU looked to answer in the sixth. The Chippewas hit the second pitch of the bottom of the sixth over the left-field wall to record a solo home run and bring the game back within one, 3-2.

The Blue Raiders responded again in the top of the seventh. Mealer drew a six-pitch walk to get on with only one out. Harvey went down on a sacrifice groundout to the CMU pitcher to move Mealer into scoring position. Rodriguez battled with CMU's pitcher to get two on after a nine-pitch walk, and then Hill connected on a single to second base to push MT's lead back to two, 4-2. However, it was gonna take extra innings to beat the Chippewas as CMU opened the bottom off the seventh with a leadoff solo home run to bring the game back within one, 4-3, but after a pair of two-out walks, the Chippewas connected on a single into center field to even the contest at four. Ahlstrom caught the CMU batter looking to punch out the final out of the inning and take things into extras.

Tepe opened the eighth on second, before Harris knocked a one-out single into right field to bring around Tepe and put the Blue Raiders back on top 5-4. Shoulders followed with a single of her own to put two on with only one out. The Blue Raiders recorded another out, but Harvey hit a two-out double into left center to give the Blue Raiders a three-run advantage, 7-4.

CMU drew a one-out walk to put two on. The Chippewas connected on a one-out into left field to load the bases and then CMU brought one across on a Blue Raider error, but that was as close as CMU would get as the Blue Raiders closed the game on a fly out to Sargent and claimed the 7-5 win.

Harvey led the Blue Raiders with three hits in the contest, going 3-for-4 with three RBIs. Harris, Shoulders, Hill, and Woods all recorded a pair of hits in the game, while Harris, Hill and Woods recorded an RBI each against the Chippewas.

Woods got the start for the Blue Raiders and recorded her first career save after coming back in to close out the game, pitching 5.2 innings and allowing two runs on four hits, while striking out a team-high three batters. Senior Gretchen Mead came in relief and put in 1.2 innings of work and allowed two runs on two hits and recording one strikeout. Senior Kailey Ahlstrom got the win for the Blue Raiders, pitching 0.2 innings and allowing just one run on two hits. Ahlstrom also threw two punchouts in the win.

Middle Tennessee 5 vs. LIU 4

Both sides remained scoreless through the first two innings, before LIU broke the stalemate. LIU loaded the bases after reaching on an error, drawing a walk, and connecting on a one-out single to third base. The Sharks then hit a sacrifice fly into left field to push across their first run, 1-0. A two-out single to shortstop brought across their second run and then a Blue Raider error allowed a third run to cross and give LIU a 3-0 lead entering the bottom of the third.

However, the Blue Raiders wouldn't take long to respond. Sargent led off the Blue Raiders' half of the third with a leadoff single into right field. Harris knocked a single into center field to put two on, before Shoulders connected on the Blue Raiders' third single of the inning to plate Sargent and bring the Blue Raiders back within two, 3-1. Harvey hit her first extra-base hit of the contest on a one-out double into left field to bring across Shoulders and Harris to even the contest at three, 3-3. Richetto closed out the inning with a two-out single into right field to plate Harvey and give the Blue Raiders their first lead of the contest entering the fourth, 4-3.

The Sharks opened the fourth with a leadoff double and then hit a sacrifice fly to bring across a run and even the game at four.

In the fifth, Mealer led things off with a single through he left side, and then Harvey drew a five-pitch walk to put two on with no one out. Harvey and Mealer stole second and third, just before Richetto connected on an RBI single into center field to bring across Mealer and put the Blue Raiders back on top, 5-4, which eventually proved to be the game winner as the Blue Raiders held on to their one-run advantage through the final three LIU outs in the seventh.

Richetto and Shoulders both registered a pair of hits in the game for the Blue Raiders, going 2-for-2 and 2-for 4, respectively. Richetto and Harvey both recorded a pair of RBIs in the contest and Harvey went 1-for-2 with the Blue Raiders only extra-base hit of the contest. Shoulders also tallied an RBI in the contest.

Keri Munn pitched her third complete game of the season, going all seven innings, and allowing just four runs on four hits and while striking out one batter in the win.

Up Next
The Blue Raiders close out play at the Spring Games tomorrow as they take on the Radford Highlanders at 8 a.m. CT, and then close out the weekend against Georgia Southern at 1 p.m. CT.

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