Middle Tennesee State University Athletics
Friday, February 24
12:00 PM CT
Middle Tennessee
vs
St. Bonaventure
Photo by: Kaitlyn Hungerford/MT Athletic Communications
MTSU set for Four-Game Series Against St. Bonaventure
2/23/2023 3:30:00 PM | Baseball
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – After a successful home opener Tuesday, Middle Tennessee Baseball is set for its first weekend series in 2023 at Reese Smith Jr Field, when the St. Bonaventure Bonnies come to Murfreesboro for a four-game series against the Blue Raiders.
A schedule change will see a doubleheader held Friday, with the first of two nine-inning games set for 12:00 p.m. Game 2 will commence after the first matchup, with minimal time in between games. Single games are currently set for Saturday and Sunday, with 12:00 p.m. first pitches set for both days.
ESPN+ will stream each game. WGNS 101.9 FM / 1450 AM (Murfreesboro), WGNS 100.5 FM (Smyrna) will carry the radio broadcast for Game 2 Friday, and on Sunday. GoBlueRaiders.com and the Varsity Network App will carry each game's radio broadcast.
Weekend Rotation
RHP Jaden Hamm will start Game 1 of Friday's twin bill, with the Game 2 starter TBD. RHP Eriq Swan will start Saturday's game, with Sunday's starter TBD.
All-Time Against St. Bonaventure
MTSU and St. Bonaventure have yet to play each other in their respective program histories.
Quick Hitters
» The Blue Raiders moved to 3-0 in their most recent season openers with a 14-8 win over VCU last Friday at Springs Brooks Stadium in Conway, S.C. After beating SEMO on Tuesday, MTSU moved to 3-0 and 7-1 in its most recent home openers.
» Middle Tennessee has flexed its muscle at the plate so far in 2023. The Blue Raiders hit three home runs against SEMO and Tuesday and are currently at eight homers as a team four games into the year. 1B DJ Wright has hit three homers, two coming against SEMO. SS Brett Coker has two, both coming against VCU in the season opener last Friday. Jeremiah Boyd (2) and Gabe Jennings (1) have also gone deep in 2023.
» Three Blue Raiders are currently hitting above .300: Coker (.375), Wright (.429) and Boyd (.438). All three also sport OPSs above 1.000: Coker (1.250), Wright (1.650) and Boyd (1.375).
» Junior RHP Hamm and freshman RHP Bryant Beranek both pitched impressive 2023 debuts in the first week this season, with Beranek's outing being his career opener. Hamm's final line on opening day vs. VCU included 5.1 IP, 6 K, 4 H and 0 BB, while Beranek went 5.0 frames, with 1 H, 2 K, 0 BB and 0 R on Tuesday against SEMO. Hamm's gem earned him TSWA Pitcher of the Week honors.
» The following eight Blue Raiders made their MTSU debuts so far this year: Grad transfer Boyd, Juco transfer OF Kam Johnson, and Pitchers Justin Lee, Caleb Peterson, Kota Sato, Cole Torbett, Patrick Johnson and Beranek.
Scouting the Bonnies
» The series serves as St. Bonaventure's 2023 opener.
» The Bonnies went 5-39 a season ago, and 3-21 in the Atlantic 10 Conference.
» Jason Rathbun takes the reins for St. Bonaventure for his first year as head coach, after 17 years at Herkimer Community College with a 556-180 career record.
» Senior LF/DH Thomas Grilli leads the team in batting average among returners from 2022, hitting .290 a season ago. Graduate student 1B Danny Manion follows with a .261 average and four homers from a year ago.
» The Bonnies anticipate several breakout freshmen, including OF Evan Dieter, CF Jayce Tharnish and INF Chris Hoalcraft. Other newcomers include transfer SS Artin Biageyian and 2B Kyle Caccamise.
» St. Bonaventure's weekend rotation is as follows, in order of games scheduled: RHP Bryce Hediger, sophomore LHP Gabe Watts, freshman RHP Noah Czajkowski and freshman RHP Nathan Klodowski.
Blue Raider Promotions
» Come test your Blue Raider Baseball knowledge! We'll have our first Game Night of the season at Game 2 of our doubleheader!
Next Up
The Blue Raiders stay home and continue their 16-game homestand with a midweek contest against Belmont on Tuesday. First pitch against the Bruins at set for 3 p.m.
MTSU's next weekend series will be vs. Toledo March 3-5, with a 3:00 p.m. scheduled start Friday.
Stay up to date with the Blue Raiders on Twitter (@MT_Baseball), Facebook (Blue Raider Baseball) and Instagram (@MT_Baseball).
A schedule change will see a doubleheader held Friday, with the first of two nine-inning games set for 12:00 p.m. Game 2 will commence after the first matchup, with minimal time in between games. Single games are currently set for Saturday and Sunday, with 12:00 p.m. first pitches set for both days.
ESPN+ will stream each game. WGNS 101.9 FM / 1450 AM (Murfreesboro), WGNS 100.5 FM (Smyrna) will carry the radio broadcast for Game 2 Friday, and on Sunday. GoBlueRaiders.com and the Varsity Network App will carry each game's radio broadcast.
Weekend Rotation
RHP Jaden Hamm will start Game 1 of Friday's twin bill, with the Game 2 starter TBD. RHP Eriq Swan will start Saturday's game, with Sunday's starter TBD.
All-Time Against St. Bonaventure
MTSU and St. Bonaventure have yet to play each other in their respective program histories.
Quick Hitters
» The Blue Raiders moved to 3-0 in their most recent season openers with a 14-8 win over VCU last Friday at Springs Brooks Stadium in Conway, S.C. After beating SEMO on Tuesday, MTSU moved to 3-0 and 7-1 in its most recent home openers.
» Middle Tennessee has flexed its muscle at the plate so far in 2023. The Blue Raiders hit three home runs against SEMO and Tuesday and are currently at eight homers as a team four games into the year. 1B DJ Wright has hit three homers, two coming against SEMO. SS Brett Coker has two, both coming against VCU in the season opener last Friday. Jeremiah Boyd (2) and Gabe Jennings (1) have also gone deep in 2023.
» Three Blue Raiders are currently hitting above .300: Coker (.375), Wright (.429) and Boyd (.438). All three also sport OPSs above 1.000: Coker (1.250), Wright (1.650) and Boyd (1.375).
» Junior RHP Hamm and freshman RHP Bryant Beranek both pitched impressive 2023 debuts in the first week this season, with Beranek's outing being his career opener. Hamm's final line on opening day vs. VCU included 5.1 IP, 6 K, 4 H and 0 BB, while Beranek went 5.0 frames, with 1 H, 2 K, 0 BB and 0 R on Tuesday against SEMO. Hamm's gem earned him TSWA Pitcher of the Week honors.
» The following eight Blue Raiders made their MTSU debuts so far this year: Grad transfer Boyd, Juco transfer OF Kam Johnson, and Pitchers Justin Lee, Caleb Peterson, Kota Sato, Cole Torbett, Patrick Johnson and Beranek.
Scouting the Bonnies
» The series serves as St. Bonaventure's 2023 opener.
» The Bonnies went 5-39 a season ago, and 3-21 in the Atlantic 10 Conference.
» Jason Rathbun takes the reins for St. Bonaventure for his first year as head coach, after 17 years at Herkimer Community College with a 556-180 career record.
» Senior LF/DH Thomas Grilli leads the team in batting average among returners from 2022, hitting .290 a season ago. Graduate student 1B Danny Manion follows with a .261 average and four homers from a year ago.
» The Bonnies anticipate several breakout freshmen, including OF Evan Dieter, CF Jayce Tharnish and INF Chris Hoalcraft. Other newcomers include transfer SS Artin Biageyian and 2B Kyle Caccamise.
» St. Bonaventure's weekend rotation is as follows, in order of games scheduled: RHP Bryce Hediger, sophomore LHP Gabe Watts, freshman RHP Noah Czajkowski and freshman RHP Nathan Klodowski.
Blue Raider Promotions
» Come test your Blue Raider Baseball knowledge! We'll have our first Game Night of the season at Game 2 of our doubleheader!
Next Up
The Blue Raiders stay home and continue their 16-game homestand with a midweek contest against Belmont on Tuesday. First pitch against the Bruins at set for 3 p.m.
MTSU's next weekend series will be vs. Toledo March 3-5, with a 3:00 p.m. scheduled start Friday.
Stay up to date with the Blue Raiders on Twitter (@MT_Baseball), Facebook (Blue Raider Baseball) and Instagram (@MT_Baseball).
Players Mentioned
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