Middle Tennessee State University Athletics
Friday, March 17
6:00 PM CT
Middle Tennessee
vs
Western Kentucky
Photo by: Kaitlyn Hungerford/MT Athletic Communications
Blue Raiders to Open C-USA Action vs. Rivals WKU
3/16/2023 5:35:00 PM | Baseball
MUERFREESBORO, Tenn. – 16 games into the 2023 season, Middle Tennessee Baseball is set to open Conference USA play and will do so against its rival from up north, the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers.
The series is also the tail end of MTSU's 16-game homestand. First pitch for Friday is set for 6:00 p.m. Saturday's game is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. before a 1:00 p.m. series finale on Sunday. All games will be streamed on ESPN+. The radio broadcast can also be found on GoBlueRaiders.com and the Varsity Network App each day, with WGNS 101.9 FM / 1450 AM (Murfreesboro), WGNS 100.5 FM (Smyrna) carrying Friday and Sunday's radio call as well.
Probable Pitchers
The Blue Raiders plan to throw RHP Jaden Hamm on Friday night and RHP Eriq Swan on Saturday. Sunday's pitcher is TBD.
All-Time Against WKU
The Hilltoppers lead the all-time series by a razor-thin 71-69 margin. The Blue Raiders however took two of three from their rivals a season ago and have taken seven of the past 10 matchups against WKU.
Quick Hitters
Hamm completed an outstanding start last Friday in a 2-0 win over Evansville on March 10. While fanning 11 batters, the Culleoka, Tenn. native was the first Blue
Raider pitcher to toss a one-hit, nine-inning complete game shutout since Bob Hardin in 1976. Hamm moved to 3-1 on the season and currently carries a 2.57 ERA. He was named the Tennessee Sports Writers Association Pitcher of the Week on March 14 for his outstanding outing Friday.
3B Gabe Jennings had a blistering six RBI in MTSU's Wednesday 11-3 win over
Tennessee Tech, going 4-5 with a double and HR, coming just a triple short of the cycle.
2B JT Mabry has continued his fast start to 2023, having earned a leadoff spot in five consecutive matchups. Carrying a 12-game hit streak, the Chesterfield, MO. native maintains a .424 AVG and has hit safely in all but one contest in 2023.
OF Jackson Galloway has raised his AVG over 100 points across the past seven games. During this stretch, the Kansas City native has logged a hit in six contests, including
having a 3-4 afternoon on March 5 against Toledo and a 2-3 day in the series finale against Evansville, complete with two doubles and a walk. A .341 hitter in 2022, Galloway's productivity is instrumental to the Blue Raiders.
Scouting the Hilltoppers
WKU is off to a hot start in 2023, maintaining a 14-4 record and having won five consecutive games.
Senior LHP Devyn Terbrak threw a no-hitter for the Hilltoppers in the team's series finale against South Dakota State on Sunday. The 14-strikeout outing marked the first Hilltopper no-hitter since March 3, 2009.
Graduate student infielder Drew Reckart is leading the squad and third in C-USA in batting average at .450. The Ohio State transfer is also tied for fifth in the league in slugging percentage with a .750 clip, and has 18 RBI and two home runs on the year. Reckart has six teammates who join him in hitting above .300.
The Hilltoppers allow opposing teams to hit just .235, a clip that's top in C-USA.
Promotions
» Spend St. Patrick's Day with the Blue Raiders! The first 200 fans will go home with a St. Patrick's Day T-Shirt.
» Prior to the first pitch on Saturday, join AOII as they host their annual Strikeout Arthritis Picnic.
Up Next
MTSU will hit the road for the first time since February 19 when it visits Tennessee Tech this Tuesday, March 21 for a 6:00 p.m. matchup in Cookeville.
The Blue Raiders are back in C-USA action at Florida Atlantic for a three-game series in Boca Raton, Fla. March 24-26. After WKU, Middle Tennessee is next back at home March 31 against FIU.
Follow the Blue Raiders
Stay up to date with the Blue Raiders on Twitter (@MT_Baseball), Facebook (Blue Raider Baseball) and Instagram (@MT_Baseball).
The series is also the tail end of MTSU's 16-game homestand. First pitch for Friday is set for 6:00 p.m. Saturday's game is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. before a 1:00 p.m. series finale on Sunday. All games will be streamed on ESPN+. The radio broadcast can also be found on GoBlueRaiders.com and the Varsity Network App each day, with WGNS 101.9 FM / 1450 AM (Murfreesboro), WGNS 100.5 FM (Smyrna) carrying Friday and Sunday's radio call as well.
Probable Pitchers
The Blue Raiders plan to throw RHP Jaden Hamm on Friday night and RHP Eriq Swan on Saturday. Sunday's pitcher is TBD.
All-Time Against WKU
The Hilltoppers lead the all-time series by a razor-thin 71-69 margin. The Blue Raiders however took two of three from their rivals a season ago and have taken seven of the past 10 matchups against WKU.
Quick Hitters
Hamm completed an outstanding start last Friday in a 2-0 win over Evansville on March 10. While fanning 11 batters, the Culleoka, Tenn. native was the first Blue
Raider pitcher to toss a one-hit, nine-inning complete game shutout since Bob Hardin in 1976. Hamm moved to 3-1 on the season and currently carries a 2.57 ERA. He was named the Tennessee Sports Writers Association Pitcher of the Week on March 14 for his outstanding outing Friday.
3B Gabe Jennings had a blistering six RBI in MTSU's Wednesday 11-3 win over
Tennessee Tech, going 4-5 with a double and HR, coming just a triple short of the cycle.
2B JT Mabry has continued his fast start to 2023, having earned a leadoff spot in five consecutive matchups. Carrying a 12-game hit streak, the Chesterfield, MO. native maintains a .424 AVG and has hit safely in all but one contest in 2023.
OF Jackson Galloway has raised his AVG over 100 points across the past seven games. During this stretch, the Kansas City native has logged a hit in six contests, including
having a 3-4 afternoon on March 5 against Toledo and a 2-3 day in the series finale against Evansville, complete with two doubles and a walk. A .341 hitter in 2022, Galloway's productivity is instrumental to the Blue Raiders.
Scouting the Hilltoppers
WKU is off to a hot start in 2023, maintaining a 14-4 record and having won five consecutive games.
Senior LHP Devyn Terbrak threw a no-hitter for the Hilltoppers in the team's series finale against South Dakota State on Sunday. The 14-strikeout outing marked the first Hilltopper no-hitter since March 3, 2009.
Graduate student infielder Drew Reckart is leading the squad and third in C-USA in batting average at .450. The Ohio State transfer is also tied for fifth in the league in slugging percentage with a .750 clip, and has 18 RBI and two home runs on the year. Reckart has six teammates who join him in hitting above .300.
The Hilltoppers allow opposing teams to hit just .235, a clip that's top in C-USA.
Promotions
» Spend St. Patrick's Day with the Blue Raiders! The first 200 fans will go home with a St. Patrick's Day T-Shirt.
» Prior to the first pitch on Saturday, join AOII as they host their annual Strikeout Arthritis Picnic.
Up Next
MTSU will hit the road for the first time since February 19 when it visits Tennessee Tech this Tuesday, March 21 for a 6:00 p.m. matchup in Cookeville.
The Blue Raiders are back in C-USA action at Florida Atlantic for a three-game series in Boca Raton, Fla. March 24-26. After WKU, Middle Tennessee is next back at home March 31 against FIU.
Follow the Blue Raiders
Stay up to date with the Blue Raiders on Twitter (@MT_Baseball), Facebook (Blue Raider Baseball) and Instagram (@MT_Baseball).
Players Mentioned
OF
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
INF
/ Baseball
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