Middle Tennessee falls 8-2 in extras to FAU in series finale

Sunday, April 3

Murfreesboro, TN

12:00 PM

Middle Tennessee

16-21, 3-6

FAU

20-18, 8-4

Florida Atlantic

Middle Tennessee

4/3/2022 4:42:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

By: Anthony Fiorella, MT Athletic Communications

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – Despite tying the game up at two in the seventh and sending the game to extras, Middle Tennessee Softball (16-21, 3-6 C-USA) just couldn't get it done as the Florida Atlantic Owls (20-18, 8-4 C-USA) scored six runs in the ninth to down the Blue Raiders 8-2 on Sunday at Blue Raider Softball Field.

FAU left fielder Sara Bertiaume doubled off the wall in left field with one out in the first to push across the game's first run.

Defensively, Blue Raider left fielder Shelby Sargent helped cut down a pair of runs in the top of the fourth and the top of the fifth, making the connection with Tepe to throw both out at home. In the fourth, FAU's Maya Amm singled to left with Olivia Peterson in scoring position at second. Sargent fielded the ground ball and came up firing, hitting Tepe right where she stood to cut down Peterson trying to score to end the inning.

In the top of the fifth with two outs, Sargent teamed up with shortstop Laura Mealer for a perfect relay to cut down FAU's Riley Ennis trying to score and keep the FAU lead at just one, 1-0.

That led to Mealer's home run that tied it at one in the fifth inning. The Blue Raider shortstop took a high fastball and hit it just under the scoreboard and over the wall in left-center field, almost identical to the spot where she hit her home run from yesterday.

FAU retook the lead in the sixth via a Myah Murray home run into the parking lot behind the left-field fence to make it a 2-1 ballgame.

With the bases loaded and one down in the seventh, sophomore Amaya Harris was hit by a pitch to bring across Sargent and tie the game at two. Cleanup hitter freshman Claire Czajkowski came about five feet from hitting her first career home run in style, flying out deep to left field to force extras.

The Blue Raiders nearly walked it off in the eighth as the Blue Raiders had Sargent on second and Tepe on first with two down in the inning. Freshman Abby Shoulders hit a two-out single into right field and Sargent rounded third trying to beat the throw, but she was tagged out as FAU's right fielder made the throw home to close the inning.

FAU closed out the game in the ninth, knocking four hits and plating six to eventually close the game at its final, 8-2.

Mealer led the Blue Raiders in the contest, going 2-for-4 at the plate, connecting on her seventh home run of the season, and scoring a run for the Blue Raiders. Shoulders, junior Kelci Hill, and freshman Anyce Harvey also recorded hits for MT, going 1-for-3, 1-for-4, and 1-for-5 in the contest. Sargent also had quality at-bats against FAU, drawing a pair of walks in both of her at-bats and scoring the Blue Raiders' second run on the day.

Corrina Dodd had another quality start in the circle for the Blue Raiders. After giving up the early run, Dodd tossed 4.2 straight scoreless innings and tied her career-high in strikeouts with eight in the contest. The Alabama native's total line included six innings pitched, allowing just two earned runs and one walk. Sophomore Danielle Taitt pitched two innings for the Blue Raiders, allowing two runs, neither of which were earned, on two hits and struck out a season-high two batters. Freshman Keri Munn pitched 0.1 innings, giving up four runs, none of which were earned, on three hits, before senior Gretchen Mead closed out the game, allowing no runs on no hits and striking out one in 0.2 innings of work.

Up Next
Middle Tennessee remains at home for a midweek tilt with Murray State on Wednesday afternoon. First pitch is set for 3:00 p.m.

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