Middle Tennessee State University Athletics
NOTEBOOK: Baseball toes the rubber for the season opener this weekend!
2/13/2023 5:23:00 PM | Baseball, Football, General, Men's Basketball, Men's Golf, Men's Tennis, Softball, Women's Basketball
MTSU will take on VCU on Friday, Coastal Carolina on Saturday and Fairfield on Sunday in the multi-team Baseball at the Beach event hosted by Coastal Carolina. Saturday's game against the Chanticleers will be the only game available to watch on ESPN+. All other games will be broadcast on the Blue Raider Radio Network.
The last Friday we play against ourselves.#BLUEnited | #BlueCrew pic.twitter.com/tQBlexdVL0
— MT Baseball (@MT_Baseball) February 11, 2023
The Blue Raiders return many bats from last year's powerful lineup, as well as the return of preseason All-Conference USA selection Jaden Hamm on the pitcher's mound as the staff's new ace. Learn more about the team in our season preview below.
Blue Raider Baseball Ready for 2023 Campaign#BLUEnited | #BlueCrewhttps://t.co/cQAsYq2hOp
— MT Baseball (@MT_Baseball) February 9, 2023
The Blue Raiders' home opener is set for next Tuesday, February 21, against SEMO. We hope you can join us! Check out the promotions for the upcoming season in the attached article!
Blue Raider Baseball Announces 2023 Promotional Schedule, features season-long promotions, theme nights and fun in-game activities!https://t.co/UNbLw3Hm7C
— MT Baseball (@MT_Baseball) February 6, 2023
Softball wins four to start the season strong in California
It was a big weekend in the Golden State for the Blue Raiders, as Middle Tennessee softball rallied to four-straight wins to close out the weekend and return to the Volunteer State with a 4-1 record.
After dropping their season opener to host UC Riverside 5-3, MTSU found a multitude of ways to win throughout the weekend, earning a
- 1-0 shutout from Kamryn Carcich against Montana,
- a dominant offensive game to avenge the loss to UCR 7-2,
- a thrilling comeback victory over Fresno State, scoring four runs in the top of the seventh inning to triumph 5-4,
- And a blowout 9-3 victory over the Grizzlies to end the weekend.
Laura Mealer and Ansley Blevins both hit two home runs over the weekend, while Shelby Echols batted a scorching .462 across the five games. In the circle, the pitching staff combined for a 2.47 ERA, while Carchich and Paige Connors both had WHIPs under 1.0 for the weekend.
B6 | Three-run home run by @Laura_Mealer5!
— MT Softball (@MT_Softball) February 12, 2023
Sponsored by @OleSouthHomes
MTSU 8 - UM 3#BlueRaiders | ⚡️⬆️ pic.twitter.com/1wf21VB6aO
B1 | @KamrynCarcich with the strike out to end the inning with runners in scoring position.
— MT Softball (@MT_Softball) February 11, 2023
MTSU 0 - FSU 0#BlueRaiders | ⚡️⬆️ pic.twitter.com/SImDlAsK5h
Get your orders into MTSU's NIL Storefront before Sunday!
Wanted to make sure this was high up in the notebook this week, as the deadline is fast approaching for you to get your personalized gear for many of our 2023 Spring Student-Athletes at MTSU via our NIL Storefront!
All orders must be placed online (https://www.image-apparel-solutions.com/mtsu23) by 11:59 CDT February 19! That's this coming Sunday! If you were hoping to grab that Jaden Hamm jersey for the baseball season, or that Savannah Wheeler jersey for the women's team post-season run, act now!
Wheeler earns C-USA Player of the Week honors
Speaking of Wheeler, the junior guard picked up the C-USA Player of the Week award this week for the third time this season and fourth time in her career.
Another well-deserved @ConferenceUSA Player of the Week honor for @savwheeler4!
— MT Women's Basketball (@MT_WBB) February 13, 2023
📰 https://t.co/HD2N2mug46#BLUEnited | #4Wheeler pic.twitter.com/zxa5WaB9vt
🏀 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝘆𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗪𝗲𝗲𝗸 🏀@MT_WBB's Savannah Wheeler (@savwheeler4) is the #CUSAWBB Player of the Week presented by @BlendersEyewear!
— Conference USA (@ConferenceUSA) February 13, 2023
🏅3️⃣ | https://t.co/HLK5x3C9PP pic.twitter.com/jkxkJJb51B
Our Women's Basketball SID Carson Herbert put it best in the release: "The Catlettsburg, Ky. native played her best game in a Lady Raider uniform Thursday, scoring a season-high 37 points on 11-of-16 shooting, while making 13-of-15 free throw attempts as MTSU scored a season-high 94 points. The junior guard drew 12 fouls from the Lady Toppers, while dishing out four assists and nabbing a team-high two steals.
"Wheeler tied the most points by a Conference USA player in a game this season and set her own career high in a C-USA game. Her 11 field goals and 13 free throws set new season highs.
"Nearly recording a double-double against the Blazers with 20 points and nine rebounds, Wheeler tied a season high in boards and recorded her seventh 20-plus point game as a Lady Raider."
Mat Drills Start for Football this week
The Middle Tennessee football team has been hard at work in the weight room since returning to Murfreesboro after winter break. But tomorrow morning at 6 a.m. in the Murphy Center, the Blue Raiders will begin their annual Mat Drills.
Another day at the office. 😤#BLUEnited | #EATT pic.twitter.com/hOr2rFXPdb
— Middle Tennessee FB (@MT_FB) February 7, 2023
The return of Mat Drills moves us one step closer to Spring Football practice, which is scheduled to begin after spring break on March 14.
Congrats to Darius Harris, Super Bowl LVII Champion!
Darius Harris becomes the second Blue Raider with multiple Super Bowl rings! 👏#MiddleMade | #EATT pic.twitter.com/Gs0na2y3no
— Middle Tennessee FB (@MT_FB) February 13, 2023
Men's Tennis picks up two big sweeps, and gets a highlight reel play to show for it
Fans at the Adams Tennis Complex Friday night were treated to one of the most confounding pieces of wizardry I've ever seen on a tennis court, courtesy of Francisco Rocha.
In doubles play against C-USA foe Rice with partner Oskar Brostrom Poulsen, the pair was caught near the net by a lob shot over their heads. Rocha made the split-second decision to go for the ball, getting there late and needing to contort his body just to get the shot off.
What followed after left the Rice duo cross court stunned and the Blue Raider crowd raucous.
Here is another angle of @Francis88903160's amazing play last night 😱 @SportsCenter #SCTop10 #BLUEnited https://t.co/DofESwlAlB pic.twitter.com/9Gdnkv52GI
— MT Men's Tennis (@MT_MensTennis) February 11, 2023
.@Francis88903160 with the @SportsCenter top 10 worthy play that helped lead the #23 Blue Raider one doubles pairing to a 6-3 triumph to start our night! 💪🎾#BLUEnited pic.twitter.com/pPZJFG5ETb
— MT Men's Tennis (@MT_MensTennis) February 11, 2023
.@Francis88903160 on his @SportsCenter top 10 worthy shot in doubles to help the #BlueRaiders to a huge 7-0 win to start conference play #BLUEnited pic.twitter.com/JAa3XqEsn2
— MT Men's Tennis (@MT_MensTennis) February 11, 2023
No. 21 MTSU once again romped over the weekend, blanking Rice 7-0 at home and securing a quick 4-0 win over Virginia Tech on the road to push their record this spring to 8-2.
Men's Golf's Varjun takes home second C-USA Weekly Award this season
Congrats to Markus Varjun on his second C-USA Player of the Week award of the season!#BlueRaiders pic.twitter.com/X7loB4yNHP
— MT Men's Golf (@MT_MGolf) February 8, 2023
Men's Basketball back in Action in the Glass House
MTSU will take on recently reranked No. 25 FAU on Thursday night at the Murphy Center. Tipoff is scheduled for 6 p.m.
In the Blue Raiders' game against UAB, Eli Lawrence became the 35th 1,000 point scorer in Middle Tennessee men's basketball history. Former teammate Donovan Sims is the most recent Blue Raider to reach that milestone, eclipsing 1,000 points just last season.
𝟏,𝟎𝟎𝟎
— MT Basketball (@MT_MBB) February 11, 2023
Congratulations to Eli Lawrence on becoming the 35th member of the Blue Raider 1,000-point club! 🏆 pic.twitter.com/NhRALtt9Sz
ICYMI: Steve Smith to be enshrined into the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame
Congratulations to our Chairman of the MTSU Board of Trustees and @MT_Baseball alum Steve Smith on becoming a member of @theTSHF Class of 2023!
— MT Athletics (@MTAthletics) February 11, 2023
He was surprised before tonight's @MT_WBB game by @PresidentMcPhee, @ChrisMassaroAD, @CoachInsell & @theTSHF.https://t.co/Ph6i9vh7Xq
Players Mentioned
