Middle Tennesee State University Athletics
Friday, April 21
6:00 PM
Middle Tennessee
vs
Rice
Photo by: Kaitlyn Hungerford/MT Athletic Communications
Middle Tennessee to Host Rice for Three-Game Set
4/20/2023 7:00:00 PM | Baseball
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – Fresh off a midweek win at Lipscomb on Wednesday night, Middle Tennessee Baseball is back in Conference USA action with a three-game series against Rice this weekend at Reese Smith Jr Field.
It's also the first weekend series in Murfreesboro since March 31-April 2 against FIU, a three-game series the Blue Raiders swept.
First pitch Friday is slated got 6:00 p.m., a 3:00 p.m. start is scheduled for Saturday before a 12:00 p.m. Sunday series finale.
All three games will be streamed on ESPN+. WGNS 101.9 FM / 1450 AM (Murfreesboro), WGNS 100.5 FM (Smyrna), GoBlueRaiders.com and the Varsity Network App will have the radio broadcast.
Series History
Rice leads the all-time series between the teams, 13-12, with a pair of tied results. The Blue Raiders however swept the Owls in last season's series in Houston. Brett Coker scored the winning run in the 10th of Game 2 to clinch the series, before the Raiders run-ruled Rice in the series finale, 21-7 behind an 11-run third inning at Reckling Park.
Promotions
Friday is Student Appreciation Day, with the first 100 students receiving an MTSU Fanny Pack.
Probable Starting Pitchers
Patrick Johnson is slated to start the series opener, with Jaden Hamm scheduled for a Game 2 start. The series finale's starting pitcher remains TBD.
Quick Hitters
The Blue Raiders lead Conference USA in batting average across C-USA games (.301) and are second across all matchups (.298). In conference games only, SS Brett Coker leads the league in hits (28) and is third in AVG (.438), while RHP James Sells is tied for second in saves (6)
RHP Kota Sato had a career-night on Wednesday at Lipscomb. Entering out of the bullpen in the first, the sophomore from Yamagata, Japan went a career-high six innings, struck out a career-high six batters, walked just one and allowed only five baserunners. The Juco transfer from Edmonds College in Washington State was credited with his first Division I win, allowing zero runs on the night.
Sells had a save in each of MTSU's three wins at rival WKU on April 6-8. On Thursday, Sells recorded the final four outs and retired the side in order in the ninth to clinch a 6-3 win. The righty once again registered a four-out save Friday night, recording a pair of strikeouts and stranding the tying runners in scoring position as the Blue Raiders clinched the series with a 2-0 victory. Sells would go 1.2 frames in Saturday's weekend finale, inducing a trio of groundouts and stranding the tying runner on first as Middle Tennessee left Bowling Green with a 5-4 win. Sells went on to win C-USA Pitcher of the Week for his performance, and has been the final pitcher in four consecutive Blue Raider wins.
The Blue Raiders have won 11 of their past 13 when playing either in the states of Tennessee and nearby Kentucky.
Scouting the Owls
Rice currently sits at 16-21 overall and 6-9 in C-USA play, and is currently seventh in the league.
The Owls have dropped their past four conference series, suffering a home sweep at the hands of Charlotte one week ago.
Junior infielder Pierce Gallo leads the squad with a .308 AVG. Junior utility Connor Walsh and freshman infielder Ben Royo have a team-best eight home runs each, with Walsh's .987 OPS also leading the team.
The Owls bat just .238 overall, but are anchored by a pair of productive starting pitchers. Sophomore righty Parker Smith leads the team with a 1.79 ERA and 1.05 WHIP across nine games, all starts. The Houston native is also fifth in the conference in opposing batting average, allowing hitters to bat just .221.
Smith's running mate in the rotation this year has been Murfreesboro native J.D. McCracken. The southpaw out of Middle Tennessee Christian School carries a 5.75 ERA with a 1.30 WHIP across 13 outings and seven starts. His .224 batting average against is sixth in the league, right behind Smith.
Next Up
After this weekend, the Raiders remain in the midstate for a midweek matchup at Belmont's E.S. Rose Park on Tuesday night. MTSU will then be back at home next weekend for a three-game series against Louisiana Tech.
Follow the Blue Raiders
Stay up to date with the Blue Raiders on Twitter (@MT_Baseball), Facebook (Blue Raider Baseball) and Instagram (@MT_Baseball).
It's also the first weekend series in Murfreesboro since March 31-April 2 against FIU, a three-game series the Blue Raiders swept.
First pitch Friday is slated got 6:00 p.m., a 3:00 p.m. start is scheduled for Saturday before a 12:00 p.m. Sunday series finale.
All three games will be streamed on ESPN+. WGNS 101.9 FM / 1450 AM (Murfreesboro), WGNS 100.5 FM (Smyrna), GoBlueRaiders.com and the Varsity Network App will have the radio broadcast.
Series History
Rice leads the all-time series between the teams, 13-12, with a pair of tied results. The Blue Raiders however swept the Owls in last season's series in Houston. Brett Coker scored the winning run in the 10th of Game 2 to clinch the series, before the Raiders run-ruled Rice in the series finale, 21-7 behind an 11-run third inning at Reckling Park.
Promotions
Friday is Student Appreciation Day, with the first 100 students receiving an MTSU Fanny Pack.
Probable Starting Pitchers
Patrick Johnson is slated to start the series opener, with Jaden Hamm scheduled for a Game 2 start. The series finale's starting pitcher remains TBD.
Quick Hitters
The Blue Raiders lead Conference USA in batting average across C-USA games (.301) and are second across all matchups (.298). In conference games only, SS Brett Coker leads the league in hits (28) and is third in AVG (.438), while RHP James Sells is tied for second in saves (6)
RHP Kota Sato had a career-night on Wednesday at Lipscomb. Entering out of the bullpen in the first, the sophomore from Yamagata, Japan went a career-high six innings, struck out a career-high six batters, walked just one and allowed only five baserunners. The Juco transfer from Edmonds College in Washington State was credited with his first Division I win, allowing zero runs on the night.
Sells had a save in each of MTSU's three wins at rival WKU on April 6-8. On Thursday, Sells recorded the final four outs and retired the side in order in the ninth to clinch a 6-3 win. The righty once again registered a four-out save Friday night, recording a pair of strikeouts and stranding the tying runners in scoring position as the Blue Raiders clinched the series with a 2-0 victory. Sells would go 1.2 frames in Saturday's weekend finale, inducing a trio of groundouts and stranding the tying runner on first as Middle Tennessee left Bowling Green with a 5-4 win. Sells went on to win C-USA Pitcher of the Week for his performance, and has been the final pitcher in four consecutive Blue Raider wins.
The Blue Raiders have won 11 of their past 13 when playing either in the states of Tennessee and nearby Kentucky.
Scouting the Owls
Rice currently sits at 16-21 overall and 6-9 in C-USA play, and is currently seventh in the league.
The Owls have dropped their past four conference series, suffering a home sweep at the hands of Charlotte one week ago.
Junior infielder Pierce Gallo leads the squad with a .308 AVG. Junior utility Connor Walsh and freshman infielder Ben Royo have a team-best eight home runs each, with Walsh's .987 OPS also leading the team.
The Owls bat just .238 overall, but are anchored by a pair of productive starting pitchers. Sophomore righty Parker Smith leads the team with a 1.79 ERA and 1.05 WHIP across nine games, all starts. The Houston native is also fifth in the conference in opposing batting average, allowing hitters to bat just .221.
Smith's running mate in the rotation this year has been Murfreesboro native J.D. McCracken. The southpaw out of Middle Tennessee Christian School carries a 5.75 ERA with a 1.30 WHIP across 13 outings and seven starts. His .224 batting average against is sixth in the league, right behind Smith.
Next Up
After this weekend, the Raiders remain in the midstate for a midweek matchup at Belmont's E.S. Rose Park on Tuesday night. MTSU will then be back at home next weekend for a three-game series against Louisiana Tech.
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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