Middle Tennesee State University Athletics
Tuesday, April 25
Nashville, TN
5:00 PM CT
Middle Tennessee
at
Belmont
Photo by: Emily Cole/MT Athletic Communications
Blue Raiders head to Nashville for Midweek Matchup at Belmont
4/24/2023 6:00:00 PM | Baseball
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Middle Tennessee Baseball walked off the Rice Owls on Sunday to clinch a Conference USA series at home, but the Blue Raiders will quickly turn around for a midweek matchup Tuesday night at Belmont's E.S. Rose Park to face the Belmont Bruins.
First pitch from the picturesque Nashville facility is slated for 5:00 p.m. The game 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
Middle Tennessee (20-19, 10-8 C-USA) leads the all-time series against Belmont, 46-16. The Blue Raiders will however be looking to avenge a 10-7 loss to the Bruins back on February 28 in Murfreesboro.
Probable Starting Pitcher
RHP Daniel Dewey is slated to start for Middle Tennessee.
Quick Hitters
MTSU's Sunday win over Rice was significant for more reasons than being the series-clincher. It was the first time the Raiders started a left-handed pitcher all year, and it was the first time the team went to extra innings in 2023. And in both cases, the Blue Raiders delivered. LHP Jake Cothran gave 3.2 innings of one-run production, striking out four. But the highlight Sunday was CF Luke Vinson's walk-off home run to lead off the 11th inning. It was the junior's first homer this year, and the first walk-off homer by any Blue Raider in exactly two years, since Briggs Rutter walked off UAB with a three-run home run in 2021.
DH Jeremiah Boyd had an outstanding week at the plate, hitting four home runs and hitting a combined .313 against Lipscomb and Rice. The graduate student drove in seven runs and slugged 1.063 across the four matchups. Twice this season, Boyd has hit homers in consecutive games, including in Games 2 and 3 against Rice, and is the only Blue Raider to own that feat this year, while also being one of two players (DJ Wright) two have two home runs in a game, having done so in Sunday's rubber.
In February's game against Belmont, Boyd hit a home run in his only at bat, going 1-1 with four walks. 2B JT Mabry was also 3-4 with a walk and C Briggs Rutter went 2-5.
The Blue Raiders are second in Conference USA team batting average (.291). In conference games only, SS Brett Coker leads the league in hits (30) and is fourth in AVG (.395), while RHP James Sells is tied for second in saves (6).
Middle Tennessee has won 13 of their past 16 when playing either in the States of
Tennessee or nearby Kentucky.
Scouting the Bruins
Belmont currently sits at 20-21 overall and 5-10 in the Missouri Valley Conference, currently on a nine-game slide in MVC play.
Among qualifying stat earners, junior infielder Sam Kirkpatrick leads the team with a .297 batting average. Fellow junior infielder Mason Landers has a team-high .850 OPS and eight home runs.
Kirkpatrick had a 2-4 night against the Blue Raiders on Feb. 28 while Landers was 2-5 with three RBI and a homer.
Freshman RHP Joe Ruzicka is expected to start on the mound for Belmont on Tuesday. He also made the start in the prior matchup between Belmont and MTSU, tossing three innings and allowing three runs, two earned.
Next Up
The Raiders remain in the midstate this weekend for a three-game home series against LA Tech. First pitch in Friday's series opener is set for 6:00 p.m.
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 the picturesque Nashville facility is slated for 5:00 p.m. The game 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
Middle Tennessee (20-19, 10-8 C-USA) leads the all-time series against Belmont, 46-16. The Blue Raiders will however be looking to avenge a 10-7 loss to the Bruins back on February 28 in Murfreesboro.
Probable Starting Pitcher
RHP Daniel Dewey is slated to start for Middle Tennessee.
Quick Hitters
MTSU's Sunday win over Rice was significant for more reasons than being the series-clincher. It was the first time the Raiders started a left-handed pitcher all year, and it was the first time the team went to extra innings in 2023. And in both cases, the Blue Raiders delivered. LHP Jake Cothran gave 3.2 innings of one-run production, striking out four. But the highlight Sunday was CF Luke Vinson's walk-off home run to lead off the 11th inning. It was the junior's first homer this year, and the first walk-off homer by any Blue Raider in exactly two years, since Briggs Rutter walked off UAB with a three-run home run in 2021.
DH Jeremiah Boyd had an outstanding week at the plate, hitting four home runs and hitting a combined .313 against Lipscomb and Rice. The graduate student drove in seven runs and slugged 1.063 across the four matchups. Twice this season, Boyd has hit homers in consecutive games, including in Games 2 and 3 against Rice, and is the only Blue Raider to own that feat this year, while also being one of two players (DJ Wright) two have two home runs in a game, having done so in Sunday's rubber.
In February's game against Belmont, Boyd hit a home run in his only at bat, going 1-1 with four walks. 2B JT Mabry was also 3-4 with a walk and C Briggs Rutter went 2-5.
The Blue Raiders are second in Conference USA team batting average (.291). In conference games only, SS Brett Coker leads the league in hits (30) and is fourth in AVG (.395), while RHP James Sells is tied for second in saves (6).
Middle Tennessee has won 13 of their past 16 when playing either in the States of
Tennessee or nearby Kentucky.
Scouting the Bruins
Belmont currently sits at 20-21 overall and 5-10 in the Missouri Valley Conference, currently on a nine-game slide in MVC play.
Among qualifying stat earners, junior infielder Sam Kirkpatrick leads the team with a .297 batting average. Fellow junior infielder Mason Landers has a team-high .850 OPS and eight home runs.
Kirkpatrick had a 2-4 night against the Blue Raiders on Feb. 28 while Landers was 2-5 with three RBI and a homer.
Freshman RHP Joe Ruzicka is expected to start on the mound for Belmont on Tuesday. He also made the start in the prior matchup between Belmont and MTSU, tossing three innings and allowing three runs, two earned.
Next Up
The Raiders remain in the midstate this weekend for a three-game home series against LA Tech. First pitch in Friday's series opener is set for 6:00 p.m.
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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SS
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LHP
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RHP
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C
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RHP
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OF/LHP
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