Middle Tennessee State University Athletics
Sunday, April 16
Murfreesboro, TN
12:00 PM CT
Middle Tennessee
27-14, 0
1
vs
0
Western Kentucky
23-17, 0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
R
H
E
WKU
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
3
1
Middle Tennessee
1
0
0
0
0
0
X
1
6
0
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Mead, Gretchen (10-3)
L: Kelsie Houchens (7-4)
Batting:
2B: Brylee Hage 1
3B: TJ Webster 1
Base Running:
SB: Brylee Hage 1 ; TJ Webster 1
HBP: Brylee Hage 1 ; Kelsey Schmidt 1
Batting:
2B: Mealer, Laura 1 ; Garcia, Julia 1
3B: Echols, Shelby 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Echols, Shelby 1
CS: Carcich, Kamryn 1
Game Leaders
AB
3
R
1
H
1
RBI
0
AB
3
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
3
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
3
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
2B
/ Softball
RHP
/ Softball
Mead outduels WKU in the circle to take the rivalry series
4/16/2023 2:50:00 PM | Softball
The fifth-year right hander allowed just three Hilltopper hits in the complete game shutout
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — Middle Tennessee softball only needed one run on Sunday, one the Blue Raiders got on their very first batter of the game, as Gretchen Mead did the rest in the circle, holding Western Kentucky to just three hits on the afternoon to win 1-0 at Blue Raider Softball Field and take the Conference USA series.
Shelby Echols drilled a triple down the right field line in the first at bat of the game for MTSU (27-14, 7-7 C-USA), scoring on the play when the relay throw from second base sailed over the Blue Raider dugout out of play. Western Kentucky (23-17, 8-6 C-USA) were retired in order in three of their seven innings at bat and were only able to advance a runner to third base just once on the afternoon, as Mead stranded six Hilltoppers on the basepaths.
Mead only allowed six baserunners all afternoon, walking one and hitting two batters in between the three WKU hits. The veteran righty struck out two in her third shutout of the season. Six different Blue Raiders recorded one hit on Sunday, with the bases loaded opportunity in the bottom of the second the best threat for more runs than just one on the afternoon.
By the Numbers
1: This was Mead's first win against WKU as a pitcher in her five-year career at MTSU. The Blue Raiders lost the previous four MTSU-WKU games Mead appeared in prior to Sunday.
0: RBIs for MTSU, a remarkable feat in a win.
10: Wins for Mead as a pitcher this season, more than double her previous season high (4, in 2022). Sunday was also her third shutout of the season.
Reaction from Head Coach Jeff Breeden
"I think it hurt (Gretchen) to lose on Friday, because she knew that she pitched a great game that day as well. She was ready to go back Saturday and pitch Game 2 if we had wanted her too. She was determined and pitched with a lot of energy, a lot of heart.
"I told everybody that this is the first year that we can win 1-0 in my 11 years here. We've not been able to hold people down and win 1-0 nothing and now we can. That's a credit to our pitching staff and a credit to our defense."
Player's Perspective – Gretchen Mead
"I took my change up away for the first five innings, so they had to prove to me that could hit something hard. Then I started to bring it back and that really helped me."
Up Next
The Blue Raiders will take a short trip up I-65 to Nashville to take on Tennessee State for a midweek clash, battling the Tigers on Wednesday of this week. The first pitch time will be announced later this week.
Follow the Blue Raiders
Follow Middle Tennessee Softball on social media on Facebook (Blue Raider Softball), Twitter (@MT_Softball) and Instagram (@mt_softball).
Shelby Echols drilled a triple down the right field line in the first at bat of the game for MTSU (27-14, 7-7 C-USA), scoring on the play when the relay throw from second base sailed over the Blue Raider dugout out of play. Western Kentucky (23-17, 8-6 C-USA) were retired in order in three of their seven innings at bat and were only able to advance a runner to third base just once on the afternoon, as Mead stranded six Hilltoppers on the basepaths.
Mead only allowed six baserunners all afternoon, walking one and hitting two batters in between the three WKU hits. The veteran righty struck out two in her third shutout of the season. Six different Blue Raiders recorded one hit on Sunday, with the bases loaded opportunity in the bottom of the second the best threat for more runs than just one on the afternoon.
By the Numbers
1: This was Mead's first win against WKU as a pitcher in her five-year career at MTSU. The Blue Raiders lost the previous four MTSU-WKU games Mead appeared in prior to Sunday.
0: RBIs for MTSU, a remarkable feat in a win.
10: Wins for Mead as a pitcher this season, more than double her previous season high (4, in 2022). Sunday was also her third shutout of the season.
Reaction from Head Coach Jeff Breeden
"I think it hurt (Gretchen) to lose on Friday, because she knew that she pitched a great game that day as well. She was ready to go back Saturday and pitch Game 2 if we had wanted her too. She was determined and pitched with a lot of energy, a lot of heart.
"I told everybody that this is the first year that we can win 1-0 in my 11 years here. We've not been able to hold people down and win 1-0 nothing and now we can. That's a credit to our pitching staff and a credit to our defense."
Player's Perspective – Gretchen Mead
"I took my change up away for the first five innings, so they had to prove to me that could hit something hard. Then I started to bring it back and that really helped me."
Up Next
The Blue Raiders will take a short trip up I-65 to Nashville to take on Tennessee State for a midweek clash, battling the Tigers on Wednesday of this week. The first pitch time will be announced later this week.
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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