Blue Raiders split doubleheader in Starkville

Saturday, October 14

Starkville, MS

12:00 PM CT

Middle Tennessee

Pearl River CC

10/14/2023 6:43:00 PM | Softball

By: Bradley Hartman, MTSU Athletics

STARKVILLE, Miss. – Middle Tennessee softball split their doubleheader with a 7-2 win over Pearl River Community College and a 9-2 loss with Mississippi State on Saturday at Nusz Park to wrap up the fall exhibition schedule.

Game 1 vs. Pearl River Community College

In the top of the first inning, the Blue Raiders were able to strike first after a pair of walks for Amaya Harris and Shelby Sargent. Ansley Blevins drove in Harris with an RBI single, and Sargent came across on a first-and-third play giving MTSU the 2-0 lead. The Wildcats answered to tie the game at two runs a piece after the first frame.

With the score tied at 2-2 in the third inning, Riley Gilmore broke the stalemate for MTSU with an RBI single. Sargent also came around to score on an error giving the Blue Raiders a 4-2 lead after three innings.

Sargent would reach base for the third time in the top of the fourth on a throwing error by Pearl River that scored Shelby Echols.

MTSU would extend its lead in the sixth inning, scoring two more on a pair of RBI singles.

Freshman Mary Owens impressed at the plate going 2-for-2 with a double. The Blue Raiders would outhit the Wildcats 10 hits to four.

Claire Woods allowed two first inning runs but nothing more, tossing five innings from the circle. Kamryn Carcich pitched the closing two frames, striking out three Wildcat batters.

Game 2 vs. Mississippi State

Mississippi State scored first on a pair of RBI singles to take the 2-0 lead after one inning. After three, the Bulldogs increased the lead to seven. A pair of two-run home runs and a solo shot accounted for the five third inning runs.

Singles from Blevins and Carcich started the fifth inning, but MTSU was unable to capitalize and left two runners on base.

The Blue Raiders were able to get on the board in the sixth inning, scoring two runs. Echols started off with a double to left center and came around to score on a wild pitch. Sargent came across for the second run on an error by the right fielder.

Jesyne Espinal started in the circle giving up two first inning runs in her two innings in the circle. Mary Martinez took over in the third inning giving up five runs and Carcich finished the game with three scoreless innings.

"All in all, it was a good fall season for us," said head coach Jeff Breeden. "Today showed some weaknesses for us to focus on this offseason as we prepare for the season this spring."

Up Next

The Blue Raiders will look ahead to the 2024 regular season.

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