Middle Tennessee State University Athletics
Friday, April 14
Murfreesboro, TN
6:00 PM CT
Middle Tennessee
25-14, 0
3
vs
4
Western Kentucky
23-15, 0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
R
H
E
WKU
0
0
1
0
1
0
2
0
4
8
2
Middle Tennessee
2
0
1
0
0
0
0
X
3
6
0
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Kelsie Houchens (7-3)
L: Carcich, Kamryn (5-5)
Batting:
2B: Faith Hegh 2
RBI: Faith Hegh 2 ; Taylor Davis 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Abby Newman 1 ; Kelsey Schmidt 1 ; TJ Webster 2
SB: Brylee Hage 1 ; Kelsey Schmidt 1
Batting:
RBI: Gilmore, Riley 2
SH: Tepe, Ava 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Echols, Shelby 1 ; Mealer, Laura 1 ; Tepe, Ava 1
SB: Medlock, Lexi 1 ; Behabetz, Savannah 1
Game Leaders
AB
4
R
0
H
2
RBI
2
AB
4
R
1
H
1
RBI
0
AB
3
R
1
H
1
RBI
0
AB
3
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
2B
/ Softball1B
/ Softball
RHP
/ SoftballSS/2B
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
Blue Raiders drop Game 1 against WKU after late Hilltopper rally
4/14/2023 9:02:00 PM | Softball
MTSU led 3-2 entering the final inning where WKU pushed across two runs
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — Middle Tennessee softball entered the seventh inning with the lead on Friday night at Blue Raider Softball Field, but could not complete the game, as a two-run top of the seventh from Western Kentucky pushed WKU past MTSU, 4-3.
The Blue Raiders (25-14, 5-7 C-USA) struck first in the bottom of the first inning, converting a pair of singles from Shelby Echols and Laura Mealer into two runs when Riley Gilmore singled up the middle to drive them in from second and third. A perfect sacrifice bunt from Ava Tepe set up the two-RBI single.
The Hilltoppers (23-15, 8-4 C-USA) clawed a run back in the top of the third, but MTSU got it back in the bottom half, getting runners on first and third and executing a steal of second by Lexi Medlock, giving Tepe enough time to rush home from third and give MTSU a 3-1 lead.
A run in the top of the fifth and two runs in the top of the seventh gave WKU a 4-3 lead entering the bottom of the seventh, but MTSU responded, loading the bases with just one out. But a fielder's choice off a deflected line drive forced out the tying run at the plate and WKU got the final strikeout to end the game.
Riley Gilmore went 2-for-4 with two RBIs to lead the Blue Raiders at the plate. Gretchen Mead was excellent in the circle, striking out six Hilltoppers to put MTSU in a position to win late.
By the Numbers
2: MTSU struck out just two times at the plate on Friday night, being able to battle at the dish after WKU starter Kaite Gardner left the game following being hit by her catcher's throw down on a steal.
7: Runners left on base for the Blue Raiders, including three in the final inning. The Hilltoppers left just six runners on during their seven innings at bat.
2: RBIs for Riley Gilmore, tying her career high in a single game. The freshman from Benton, Ark. increased her season total to five RBIs after just her second career start on Friday.
Reaction from Head Coach Jeff Breeden
"Strategically, I wouldn't change what we did at all. I thought Gretchen pitched really well. Kam's job is to come in there and shut it down and get a save. Today, we didn't do that. Their leadoff hitter is the best hitter and we walk her, I expect we either come back with a strikeout or we get and out behind her and we didn't. We had the same chances on offense too, and we didn't execute.
"This game was lost by us in innings four, five and six, with our hitters not hitting the ball. We went down soft, we let their pitcher get confident and we lost this game."
Up Next
The Conference USA rivalry series continues at Blue Raider Softball Field, with MTSU taking on WKU in Game 2 on Saturday. First pitch is scheduled for 4 p.m.
Follow the Blue Raiders
Follow Middle Tennessee Softball on social media on Facebook (Blue Raider Softball), Twitter (@MT_Softball) and Instagram (@mt_softball).
The Blue Raiders (25-14, 5-7 C-USA) struck first in the bottom of the first inning, converting a pair of singles from Shelby Echols and Laura Mealer into two runs when Riley Gilmore singled up the middle to drive them in from second and third. A perfect sacrifice bunt from Ava Tepe set up the two-RBI single.
The Hilltoppers (23-15, 8-4 C-USA) clawed a run back in the top of the third, but MTSU got it back in the bottom half, getting runners on first and third and executing a steal of second by Lexi Medlock, giving Tepe enough time to rush home from third and give MTSU a 3-1 lead.
A run in the top of the fifth and two runs in the top of the seventh gave WKU a 4-3 lead entering the bottom of the seventh, but MTSU responded, loading the bases with just one out. But a fielder's choice off a deflected line drive forced out the tying run at the plate and WKU got the final strikeout to end the game.
Riley Gilmore went 2-for-4 with two RBIs to lead the Blue Raiders at the plate. Gretchen Mead was excellent in the circle, striking out six Hilltoppers to put MTSU in a position to win late.
By the Numbers
2: MTSU struck out just two times at the plate on Friday night, being able to battle at the dish after WKU starter Kaite Gardner left the game following being hit by her catcher's throw down on a steal.
7: Runners left on base for the Blue Raiders, including three in the final inning. The Hilltoppers left just six runners on during their seven innings at bat.
2: RBIs for Riley Gilmore, tying her career high in a single game. The freshman from Benton, Ark. increased her season total to five RBIs after just her second career start on Friday.
Reaction from Head Coach Jeff Breeden
"Strategically, I wouldn't change what we did at all. I thought Gretchen pitched really well. Kam's job is to come in there and shut it down and get a save. Today, we didn't do that. Their leadoff hitter is the best hitter and we walk her, I expect we either come back with a strikeout or we get and out behind her and we didn't. We had the same chances on offense too, and we didn't execute.
"This game was lost by us in innings four, five and six, with our hitters not hitting the ball. We went down soft, we let their pitcher get confident and we lost this game."
Up Next
The Conference USA rivalry series continues at Blue Raider Softball Field, with MTSU taking on WKU in Game 2 on Saturday. First pitch is scheduled for 4 p.m.
Follow the Blue Raiders
Follow Middle Tennessee Softball on social media on Facebook (Blue Raider Softball), Twitter (@MT_Softball) and Instagram (@mt_softball).
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