Middle Tennessee State University Athletics
Friday, March 31
4:00 PM CT
Middle Tennessee
vs
FIU
Photo by: Matt Posey/MT Athletic Communications
Blue Raiders Return Home to Face FIU this Weekend
3/30/2023 6:00:00 PM | Baseball
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – Middle Tennessee Baseball is back at Reese Smith Jr. Field this weekend as it continues Conference USA play against the FIU Panthers.
The three-game set is scheduled to get underway Friday in Murfreesboro. Due to forecasted weather in the area, Friday's start time has been changed to a 4:00 p.m. first pitch. Saturday is slated for a 3:00 p.m. start before a series finale Sunday at 12:00 p.m.
ESPN+ will carry the stream for all three matchups. The games will be available on radio on WGNS 101.9 FM / 1450 AM (Murfreesboro), WGNS 100.5 FM (Smyrna), GoBlueRaiders.com and the Varsity Network App.
All-Time Against FIU
The Blue Raiders lead the all-time series against FIU, 26-25. The Blue Raiders took last year's series in Miami, winning Games 2 and 3 of the series after dropping the series opener in 11 innings.
Quick Hitters
SS Brett Coker hit a combined .583 in MTSU's three-game series at Florida Atlantic this past weekend. With seven hits, two doubles, a walk and an RBI in Boca Raton, Coker now leads the Blue Raiders in both AVG (.385) and is second in OPS (.999) in 2023. The junior from Hendersonville, Tenn. has also reached base in 19 consecutive games, a season-high among all roster members. Coker's Conference USA average of .462 ranks third in the league.
Middle Tennessee is currently third in Conference USA in team batting average (.311) across all games, but is first in the league (.321) in conference play. Four Blue Raiders hit over .300 in the three-game road series at FAU. Joining Coker in that category was Jackson Galloway (.462), Briggs Rutter (.385) and Jeremiah Boyd (.357).
Through 24 games this season, the Blue Raiders have used the same starting infield. DJ Wright has maned first base, JT Mabry has played at second, Brett Coker has been the everyday shortstop and Gabe Jennings has occupied the third base position. Defensively, Wright co-leads the conference with a 1.000 fielding percentage. Coker meanwhile is tied for first in C-USA in assists (67).
MTSU returns home following a five-game road swing, their first since a 16-game homestand to open the season at Reese Smith Jr. Field. The Blue Raiders will hit the road again for two consecutive weekend series following this weekend.
Probable Pitchers
RHPs Bryant Beranek, Jaden Hamm and Eriq Swan will toss this weekend's games, in that order.
Scouting the Panthers
FIU stands at 13-13 on the year, with a 2-4 mark in C-USA play. The Panthers have dropped seven of their nine most recent contests, including series losses to UAB and Dallas Baptist.
During that stretch, the Panthers have faced ranked opponents three times. They fell 12-5 to No. 19 Florida Gulf Coast, while also coming up short twice against No. 23 Miami.
Against the Hurricanes, FIU was tied or leading in both games heading into the final inning. On March 15 at home, the Panthers surrendered four runs in the ninth to fall 7-3. Then on March 28 in Coral Gables, FIU had the Canes down two runs and down to their final out before allowing a pair of two-out baserunners and a three-run walk-off homer to lose 6-5.
Four FIU hitters are currently hitting north of .300. Junior 1B Ryne Guida leads the squad with a .347 AVG and is second with four homers. Junior infielder Dante Girardi follows closely with a .337 AVG, and Miami transfer Mike Rosario sits behind Girardi at .317 and a team-high five home runs.
Redshirt senior RHP Angel Tiburcio and redshirt junior LHP Ryan Cabarcas combine for over half the Panthers' starts on the mound. Tiburcio carries a 3.00 ERA and a 1.19 WHIP over 27.0 innings. Carbarcas meanwhile—a transfer from Florida—is sitting at a 5.92 ERA across a team-high 27.1 frames.
Promotions
» Free food and giveaways for students Friday as part of the SGA Student Appreciation Tailgate!
Next Up
After this weekend, the Blue Raiders will embark on another road swing, with seven games in a row scheduled away from Murfreesboro. Road series at WKU and UTSA will sandwich a midweek clash against Georgian State in Atlanta. MTSU will then face Lipscomb on May 18.
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 three-game set is scheduled to get underway Friday in Murfreesboro. Due to forecasted weather in the area, Friday's start time has been changed to a 4:00 p.m. first pitch. Saturday is slated for a 3:00 p.m. start before a series finale Sunday at 12:00 p.m.
ESPN+ will carry the stream for all three matchups. The games will be available on radio on WGNS 101.9 FM / 1450 AM (Murfreesboro), WGNS 100.5 FM (Smyrna), GoBlueRaiders.com and the Varsity Network App.
All-Time Against FIU
The Blue Raiders lead the all-time series against FIU, 26-25. The Blue Raiders took last year's series in Miami, winning Games 2 and 3 of the series after dropping the series opener in 11 innings.
Quick Hitters
SS Brett Coker hit a combined .583 in MTSU's three-game series at Florida Atlantic this past weekend. With seven hits, two doubles, a walk and an RBI in Boca Raton, Coker now leads the Blue Raiders in both AVG (.385) and is second in OPS (.999) in 2023. The junior from Hendersonville, Tenn. has also reached base in 19 consecutive games, a season-high among all roster members. Coker's Conference USA average of .462 ranks third in the league.
Middle Tennessee is currently third in Conference USA in team batting average (.311) across all games, but is first in the league (.321) in conference play. Four Blue Raiders hit over .300 in the three-game road series at FAU. Joining Coker in that category was Jackson Galloway (.462), Briggs Rutter (.385) and Jeremiah Boyd (.357).
Through 24 games this season, the Blue Raiders have used the same starting infield. DJ Wright has maned first base, JT Mabry has played at second, Brett Coker has been the everyday shortstop and Gabe Jennings has occupied the third base position. Defensively, Wright co-leads the conference with a 1.000 fielding percentage. Coker meanwhile is tied for first in C-USA in assists (67).
MTSU returns home following a five-game road swing, their first since a 16-game homestand to open the season at Reese Smith Jr. Field. The Blue Raiders will hit the road again for two consecutive weekend series following this weekend.
Probable Pitchers
RHPs Bryant Beranek, Jaden Hamm and Eriq Swan will toss this weekend's games, in that order.
Scouting the Panthers
FIU stands at 13-13 on the year, with a 2-4 mark in C-USA play. The Panthers have dropped seven of their nine most recent contests, including series losses to UAB and Dallas Baptist.
During that stretch, the Panthers have faced ranked opponents three times. They fell 12-5 to No. 19 Florida Gulf Coast, while also coming up short twice against No. 23 Miami.
Against the Hurricanes, FIU was tied or leading in both games heading into the final inning. On March 15 at home, the Panthers surrendered four runs in the ninth to fall 7-3. Then on March 28 in Coral Gables, FIU had the Canes down two runs and down to their final out before allowing a pair of two-out baserunners and a three-run walk-off homer to lose 6-5.
Four FIU hitters are currently hitting north of .300. Junior 1B Ryne Guida leads the squad with a .347 AVG and is second with four homers. Junior infielder Dante Girardi follows closely with a .337 AVG, and Miami transfer Mike Rosario sits behind Girardi at .317 and a team-high five home runs.
Redshirt senior RHP Angel Tiburcio and redshirt junior LHP Ryan Cabarcas combine for over half the Panthers' starts on the mound. Tiburcio carries a 3.00 ERA and a 1.19 WHIP over 27.0 innings. Carbarcas meanwhile—a transfer from Florida—is sitting at a 5.92 ERA across a team-high 27.1 frames.
Promotions
» Free food and giveaways for students Friday as part of the SGA Student Appreciation Tailgate!
Next Up
After this weekend, the Blue Raiders will embark on another road swing, with seven games in a row scheduled away from Murfreesboro. Road series at WKU and UTSA will sandwich a midweek clash against Georgian State in Atlanta. MTSU will then face Lipscomb on May 18.
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
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