Middle Tennesee State University Athletics
Tuesday, March 21
Cookeville, Tenn.
6:00 PM
Middle Tennessee
at
Tennessee Tech
Photo by: Kaitlyn Hungerford/MT Athletic Communications
Blue Raiders to Hit Road for Midweek Matchup at Tennessee Tech
3/20/2023 6:30:00 PM | Baseball
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Middle Tennessee Baseball concluded its season-opening homestand and opened Conference USA action with a series victory over WKU, and will look to carry its momentum into Tuesday evening's midweek matchup at Tennessee Tech.
First pitch from Bush Stadium at the Averitt Express Baseball Complex in Cookeville is slated for 6:00 p.m. The game will be shown on ESPN+, and the radio broadcast can be found on WGNS 101.9 FM / 1450 AM (Murfreesboro), WGNS 100.5 FM (Smyrna), GoBlueRaiders.com and the Varsity Network App.
Probable Pitcher
RHP Daniel Dewey is set to start Tuesday's contest.
All-Time Against Tennessee Tech
The Blue Raiders hold a 90-36-1 lead in the all-time series with Tennessee Tech. The teams share a storied history from their days together in the Ohio Valley Conference. MTSU won both matchups in 2022, with the games each 8-4. The Raiders also won the teams' last meeting on March 15, 11-3.
Quick Hitters
RHP James Sells has logged two saves over the past week. Entering the game with the tying run on deck against Tennessee Tech in the seventh, the Tullahoma, Tenn. native
recorded the seven-out save last Wednesday. Two days later, he induced five outs late in MTSU's series-opening win over WKU. And in the series finale against the Hilltoppers, he earned his first win, tossing three innings of one-run ball as the Raiders rallied late.
3B Gabe Jennings had a blistering past week, hitting .500 with nine hits, nine RBI, two doubles, a triple and a homer over his past four games.
Gino Avros has come on the scene over the past week, getting the nod in right field in the final won games of the WKU series this past weekend. With just two starts before the series this season, the Austin Peay graduate transfer went 4-8 in two games against the 'Toppers, including an RBI to open the scoring for MTSU in Sunday's rubber matchup win.
MTSU's 16-game opening homestand is officially in the rearview mirror. With the series win last weekend, the Blue Raiders finished the homestand with a 9-7 record and a pair of series victories.
Scouting the Golden Eagles
Tennessee Tech is off to an 8-11 start in 2023. After an 11-3 loss to the Blue Raiders in Murfreesboro last week, the Golden Eagles dropped a non-conference series against ETSU at home this past weekend, losing the final two games of the set after a 4-3 Friday win.
Junior Preston Ford currently leads the squad with a .348 average. Senior Nick Spardone follows at a .313 clip.
Golden Eagles have proven to be a powerful lineup, hitting 22 home runs on the year, with senior Peyton Mills leading the way with six. Conversely, they have surrendered 26 homers this season to date.
Matt Bragga leads the Golden Eagle program as head coach for the second consecutive and 17th overall season, having spent the 2019-21 season in the same role at Rice.
Up Next
The Blue Raiders are back in C-USA action at Florida Atlantic for a three-game series in Boca Raton, Fla. on March 24-26. 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).
First pitch from Bush Stadium at the Averitt Express Baseball Complex in Cookeville is slated for 6:00 p.m. The game will be shown on ESPN+, and the radio broadcast can be found on WGNS 101.9 FM / 1450 AM (Murfreesboro), WGNS 100.5 FM (Smyrna), GoBlueRaiders.com and the Varsity Network App.
Probable Pitcher
RHP Daniel Dewey is set to start Tuesday's contest.
All-Time Against Tennessee Tech
The Blue Raiders hold a 90-36-1 lead in the all-time series with Tennessee Tech. The teams share a storied history from their days together in the Ohio Valley Conference. MTSU won both matchups in 2022, with the games each 8-4. The Raiders also won the teams' last meeting on March 15, 11-3.
Quick Hitters
RHP James Sells has logged two saves over the past week. Entering the game with the tying run on deck against Tennessee Tech in the seventh, the Tullahoma, Tenn. native
recorded the seven-out save last Wednesday. Two days later, he induced five outs late in MTSU's series-opening win over WKU. And in the series finale against the Hilltoppers, he earned his first win, tossing three innings of one-run ball as the Raiders rallied late.
3B Gabe Jennings had a blistering past week, hitting .500 with nine hits, nine RBI, two doubles, a triple and a homer over his past four games.
Gino Avros has come on the scene over the past week, getting the nod in right field in the final won games of the WKU series this past weekend. With just two starts before the series this season, the Austin Peay graduate transfer went 4-8 in two games against the 'Toppers, including an RBI to open the scoring for MTSU in Sunday's rubber matchup win.
MTSU's 16-game opening homestand is officially in the rearview mirror. With the series win last weekend, the Blue Raiders finished the homestand with a 9-7 record and a pair of series victories.
Scouting the Golden Eagles
Tennessee Tech is off to an 8-11 start in 2023. After an 11-3 loss to the Blue Raiders in Murfreesboro last week, the Golden Eagles dropped a non-conference series against ETSU at home this past weekend, losing the final two games of the set after a 4-3 Friday win.
Junior Preston Ford currently leads the squad with a .348 average. Senior Nick Spardone follows at a .313 clip.
Golden Eagles have proven to be a powerful lineup, hitting 22 home runs on the year, with senior Peyton Mills leading the way with six. Conversely, they have surrendered 26 homers this season to date.
Matt Bragga leads the Golden Eagle program as head coach for the second consecutive and 17th overall season, having spent the 2019-21 season in the same role at Rice.
Up Next
The Blue Raiders are back in C-USA action at Florida Atlantic for a three-game series in Boca Raton, Fla. on March 24-26. 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
3B/OF
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
INF
/ Baseball
RHP
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