Middle Tennessee State University Athletics
NOTEBOOK: Baseball and Softball sweep four games in dominant weekend on the diamond
2/27/2023 5:24:00 PM | Baseball, General, Men's Basketball, Men's Tennis, Softball, Women's Basketball, Women's Volleyball, BRAA
First weekend at the Reese ✔️
— MT Baseball (@MT_Baseball) February 27, 2023
First series dub ✔️#BLUEnited | #BlueCrew pic.twitter.com/NBRtdgMQ4B
The Blue Raiders were dominant on the mound against the Bonnies, allowing just 2.25 runs per game and striking out 36 batters, good enough to average exactly a strikeout an inning as a pitching staff. Not to be outdone, the MTSU hitters also had solid weekends, twice posting at least 16 runs as an offense over the weekend.
Three Blue Raiders are currently hitting .400 or better, led by catcher Briggs Rutter, who tore the cover off the ball with an 8-for-10 weekend at the dish, juicing his batting average to .455 after going hitless in the team's first weekend in Conway, S.C.
MTSU continues its homestand tomorrow against Belmont at Reese Smith Jr. Field for a $2 Tuesday. First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m.
Get those brooms out! @MT_Baseball completes the four-game SWEEP over St. Bonaventure with a 6-3 victory in today's weekend finale!
— MT Athletics (@MTAthletics) February 26, 2023
The #BlueRaiders are back at The Reese on Tuesday at 3 PM vs. Belmont before hosting Toledo for three games next weekend.#BLUEnited pic.twitter.com/XrTweIe6vM
Softball takes all four games in Georgia
Southeast of Murfreesboro, Middle Tennessee softball was also taking care of business on the diamond, taking all four games over the weekend in Statesboro, Ga. to rush out to the best 14-game start in program history at 11-3.
The Blue Raiders were dominant in all facets, allowing just two runs all weekend while allowing no runs on Saturday, while ending three of the four games due to Mercy Rule, including both games against NC A&T.
PERFECT weekend 🙌
— MT Softball (@MT_Softball) February 25, 2023
Your #BlueRaiders improve to 11-3, the best record through 14 games in program history!#BLUEnited | ⚡️⬆️ pic.twitter.com/Wr6t0iHGPK
Laura Mealer continues her breakout sophomore campaign at shortstop, going 7-for-10 over the weekend to push her batting average to .524 for the season with a blistering OPS of 1.504 in 14 games. In the circle, the entire pitching staff has an ERA of 1.92, led by Keri Munn's 1.11 ERA across 19.0 innings so far this season.
Big weekend from Laura Mealer! 👏🏼
— MT Softball (@MT_Softball) February 27, 2023
Mealer batted .700 (7-10) with two doubles, a triple and a home run at Georgia southern as the Blue Raiders went 4-0. She also led the team with eight RBIs and eights runs scored.#BLUEnited | ⚡️🆙 pic.twitter.com/QsYdTw2p0p
Softball will head to Madeira Beach, Fla. for the Spring Games this coming weekend.
Women's Hoops ranked at No. 24 ahead of final two home games
After a dramatic last-minute victory over LA Tech on the road this weekend, your Middle Tennessee Women's Basketball team checked in at No. 24 in this week's AP Poll.
Moved up a spot this week! 🙌#BLUEnited | #TrueBlue pic.twitter.com/70fiokZ1WE
— MT Women's Basketball (@MT_WBB) February 27, 2023
The Lady Raiders won their only game of the week last week in dramatic fashion, as Kseniya Malashka banked a shot off the glass with 3.0 seconds remaining for her 26th and 27th points of the night to give MTSU a two-second lead. The Belarus international then blocked the final shot from the Lady Techsters to secure the win.
ICYMI: Kseniya Malashka secured Middle Tennessee's dub against Louisiana Tech today with only 3.2 seconds to spare 🤯#NCAAWBB x 🎥 @MT_WBB pic.twitter.com/4HEQrLHDlA
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessWBB) February 26, 2023
Found a way to win! 💪#BLUEnited | #TrueBlue pic.twitter.com/8x79G7nvtf
— MT Women's Basketball (@MT_WBB) February 25, 2023
And before the ball was even tipped last week, your Lady Raiders secured the Conference USA Regular Season title, the 20th conference title in program history.
𝘾𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙘𝙝𝙚𝙙 🏆
— MT Women's Basketball (@MT_WBB) February 24, 2023
Your #LadyRaiders have secured their 20th conference regular season title in program history and their second as a member of @ConferenceUSA! #BLUEnited pic.twitter.com/CJYkb2zoC5
Make sure to come to the Glass House this weekend for the final home games of the 2022-23 season! Thursday's game against North Texas tips off at 6 p.m. and Saturday's game against UTEP tips off at 2 p.m.
ICYMI: Dishman honored in final game in the Murphy Center
I had a really good time discussing one of my favorite Blue Raiders, DeAndre Dishman, on the occasion of his final game in the Glass House in my Sunday column this week. I don't usually highlight those in my notebook, but wanted to make sure this one, if you haven't heard his full story, was in your inbox this week.
It's been quite a run for @MT_MBB's DeAndre Dishman, who played his last game in Murphy Center yesterday afternoon.
— MT Athletics (@MTAthletics) February 27, 2023
MTSU Staff Writer @sjdoughton's Sunday column is presented by @tennessee_ortho.https://t.co/tfYTyhHZsH
MTSU men's basketball closes out the season on the road at North Texas and UTEP this weekend, having already secured a bye in next week's Conference USA Tournament.
Final Coaches' Show of the Season tonight!
Don't miss the final editions of Rick Insell LIVE! and Nick McDevitt LIVE! this year! Both will be broadcast tonight from The Boulevard.
Another reminder to catch the last Rick Insell Live of the 2022-23 season tonight at The Boulevard! #BLUEnited | #TrueBlue pic.twitter.com/WLwI7DVjMi
— MT Women's Basketball (@MT_WBB) February 27, 2023
Don't miss the final Nick McDevitt Live of 2022-23 tonight at The Boulevard!!
— MT Basketball (@MT_MBB) February 27, 2023
Join us from 7-8 p.m. in person or on 94.9/9.1 The Fan and the Varsity Network! pic.twitter.com/XeRZgrx4SY
Due to high school basketball tournaments underway in the Murfreesboro area, where to find the coaches' shows have changed this week if you cannot join us at the Boulevard.
Monday, February 27
- Rick Insell Live – 6pm
- Streaming on GoBlueRaiders.com and the Varsity Network App
- Nick McDevitt Live – 7pm
- 94.9 The Fan, 95.1 in Murfreesboro
- Streaming on GoBlueRaiders.com and the Varsity Network App
Wednesday, March 1
- Re-air of Rick Insell Live – 6pm
- WGNS 101.9 FM / 1450 AM (Murfreesboro), WGNS 100.5 FM (Smyrna)
MT Volleyball's Rhoda, Smith Highlight Black History Month
Adri Rhoda and Dasia Smith both took time during their spring season to sit down and share their stories with the camera and discuss the importance of Black History Month. Check out their messages to Blue Raider fans below!
Celebrating Black History Month!@adrianarhoda being here and being a role model for young girls helps her honor her mom!#BLUEnited | #BlackHistoryMonth pic.twitter.com/eQm6XikuMq
— MT Volleyball (@MT_Volleyball) February 23, 2023
Celebrating Black History Month!
— MT Volleyball (@MT_Volleyball) February 27, 2023
Black History Month isn't just limited to February. @_DasiaS_ lives it every day.#BLUEnited | #BlackHistoryMonth pic.twitter.com/mP9ncqpqO7
Men's Tennis Takes Two at Blue Gray Championships
It wasn't a repeat of their title a season ago, but Middle Tennessee men's tennis still performed well in the annual Blue Gray Championships over the weekend, taking two of three dual matches to finish third in the men's draw.
Coach Jimmy Borendame was sure to thank the host families for their generosity, as well shouting out the traveling "Road Raiders" that came down to support the team away from the ATC!
🙏🏽 to the housing families for having us again in Montgomery, y'all are the best!! We ❤️ the Blue Gray 🟦⬜️ and I will always bring my squad as long as y'all and boss man Steve Laro will put up with me 😎 #bluegraytennis #gsd #wegritt16 pic.twitter.com/E0Tn29tUJe
— Jimmy Borendame (@CoachJimmyB) February 26, 2023
How cool 😎 is this? Blue Raider road raiders 🚌 at the Blue Gray Tennis Tournament, this is awesome 🤩 💪🏽👍🏽#bluegraytennis #GSD pic.twitter.com/qp9ZptieFm
— Jimmy Borendame (@CoachJimmyB) February 24, 2023
Football Matt Drills Continue, Spring Ball set for March 14
Grinding through another week of mat drills 👊#BLUEnited | #EATT pic.twitter.com/qhZr94bhS9
— Middle Tennessee FB (@MT_FB) February 23, 2023
One for the Road: Beyond the Blue NIL Spotlight
Brand new to our YouTube channel, Deputy AD Lee De León and Associate AD for Marketing and Fan Engagement Chelsea Floyd are starting a new interview series to connect local businesses who wish to support MTSU Athletes with Blue Raider Student Athletes who want to help make use of their Name, Image and Likeness opportunities recently granted by the NCAA.
Their first interview, with men's basketball player Eli Lawrence, is out today! Check it out below
