Middle Tennessee State University Athletics
Friday, April 28
Murfreesboro, TN
6:00 PM CT
Middle Tennessee
31-15, 0
3
vs
2
UTSA
8-36, 0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
R
H
E
UTSA
0
0
0
0
0
2
0
2
6
0
Middle Tennessee
1
0
0
0
2
0
X
3
7
0
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Mead, Gretchen (12-4)
L: ESTELL, Marena (3-10)
S: Carcich, Kamryn (5)
Batting:
2B: IBARRA, Kat 1 ; ESTELL, Marena 1
3B: ROBILLARD, Camryn 1
RBI: ROBILLARD, Camryn 2
Base Running:
RUNS: IBARRA, Kat 1 ; ESTELL, Marena 1
Batting:
2B: Mealer, Laura 1 ; Blevins, Ansley 1
HR: Echols, Shelby 1 ; Mealer, Laura 1
RBI: Echols, Shelby 2 ; Mealer, Laura 1
SH: Behabetz, Savannah 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Echols, Shelby 1 ; Mealer, Laura 1 ; Medlock, Lexi 1
Game Leaders
AB
3
R
0
H
3
RBI
0
AB
3
R
1
H
2
RBI
1
AB
3
R
1
H
1
RBI
2
AB
3
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
OF
/ Softball
RHP
/ Softball2B
/ Softball
RHP
/ SoftballSS/2B
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
Blue Raiders stop Return of the Roadrunners to start C-USA series with a win
4/28/2023 8:58:00 PM | Softball
Echols' fifth inning home run proves to be the difference on Friday
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — Middle Tennessee softball staved off a late rally from UTSA on Friday night, stranding the bases loaded to win the opening game of the Conference USA series 3-2 at Blue Raider Softball Field.
The Blue Raiders (31-15, 10-8 C-USA) started the scoring early, with Laura Mealer blasting a solo home run past the video board in left field in the bottom of the first, her 10th home run of the season. The 1-0 lead would hold over the first hour and change of game time, with both pitchers effectively keeping each lineup at bay. Gretchen Mead did not allow a baserunner until the fifth inning, while MTSU managed just two baserunners in the second, third and fourth innings combined.
UTSA (8-36, 3-15 C-USA) threated to score in the top of the fifth, loading the bases off their first single of the evening and a pair of walks, but Mead got a groundout to third base to get out of the jam. Shelby Echols then came up in the bottom half, driving home Lexi Medlock and herself after back spinning a softball just over the right field fence for a two-run home run for a 3-0 Blue Raider lead.
The Roadrunners responded quickly, hitting a single, double and triple in the top of the sixth to cut the lead to 3-2. But Savannah Behabetz ended the inning with a webgem in left field, going full extension of a dive to snag a sinking line drive to retire the final UTSA batter of the frame and keep her team in front.
Kamryn Carcich took over for Mead in the top of the seventh, where UTSA would load the bases with two outs to threaten taking the lead, but Carcich induced a popout to Mealer to end the game and secure the series opening win.
By the Numbers
4: Gretchen Mead was perfect through four innings on Friday night, retiring 12 Roadrunners in a row to start the game until Camryn Robillard singled to start the top of the fifth.
10: Home runs for Laura Mealer in 2023, tying her single-season career high from her freshman campaign in 2022. Her 10 big flies ties her for the fourth most home runs in a season hit by a Blue Raider with three other Blue Raiders.
5: Saves for Kamryn Carcich this season, passing Trish White for the most saves in a single season in MTSU softball history. White had four saves in both the 2004 and 2006 seasons.
Reaction from Head Coach Jeff Breeden
"I thought Mealer felt good today. I was thinking in warmups today that Mealer would probably hit one out today, and she did in her first trip. Echols, she's kind of a catalyst for us. You don't think about her hitting a lot of home runs, but she's got some pop. She got that inside pitch, turned on it and got it to go. It didn't go by much, but it went. And we definitely needed that, because we didn't group our hits very well today.
"We know what we're going to get (with Kamryn). Our expectations for her now, you kind of take it for granted that she's going to go in there and close the door."
Player's Perspective – Shelby Echols
"I just knew I had to move Lexi up to third. I was just trying to get Laura up to bat and give Laura a chance to score more runs. I was just happy I got a hit. I was struggling a lot at the plate. Normally, I'm a warning track power hitter, so when I saw it go over, I was really excited."
Player's Perspective – Kamryn Carcich
On setting the single season saves record
"That was my role for my old team, so I've been put in those situations a lot already. Coming in here and having a good defense behind me, being able to trust that they're going to produce, gives me that freedom to do what I need to do for them."
Up Next
The Blue Raiders continue their series against the Roadrunners at Blue Raider Softball Field 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 (31-15, 10-8 C-USA) started the scoring early, with Laura Mealer blasting a solo home run past the video board in left field in the bottom of the first, her 10th home run of the season. The 1-0 lead would hold over the first hour and change of game time, with both pitchers effectively keeping each lineup at bay. Gretchen Mead did not allow a baserunner until the fifth inning, while MTSU managed just two baserunners in the second, third and fourth innings combined.
UTSA (8-36, 3-15 C-USA) threated to score in the top of the fifth, loading the bases off their first single of the evening and a pair of walks, but Mead got a groundout to third base to get out of the jam. Shelby Echols then came up in the bottom half, driving home Lexi Medlock and herself after back spinning a softball just over the right field fence for a two-run home run for a 3-0 Blue Raider lead.
The Roadrunners responded quickly, hitting a single, double and triple in the top of the sixth to cut the lead to 3-2. But Savannah Behabetz ended the inning with a webgem in left field, going full extension of a dive to snag a sinking line drive to retire the final UTSA batter of the frame and keep her team in front.
Kamryn Carcich took over for Mead in the top of the seventh, where UTSA would load the bases with two outs to threaten taking the lead, but Carcich induced a popout to Mealer to end the game and secure the series opening win.
By the Numbers
4: Gretchen Mead was perfect through four innings on Friday night, retiring 12 Roadrunners in a row to start the game until Camryn Robillard singled to start the top of the fifth.
10: Home runs for Laura Mealer in 2023, tying her single-season career high from her freshman campaign in 2022. Her 10 big flies ties her for the fourth most home runs in a season hit by a Blue Raider with three other Blue Raiders.
5: Saves for Kamryn Carcich this season, passing Trish White for the most saves in a single season in MTSU softball history. White had four saves in both the 2004 and 2006 seasons.
Reaction from Head Coach Jeff Breeden
"I thought Mealer felt good today. I was thinking in warmups today that Mealer would probably hit one out today, and she did in her first trip. Echols, she's kind of a catalyst for us. You don't think about her hitting a lot of home runs, but she's got some pop. She got that inside pitch, turned on it and got it to go. It didn't go by much, but it went. And we definitely needed that, because we didn't group our hits very well today.
"We know what we're going to get (with Kamryn). Our expectations for her now, you kind of take it for granted that she's going to go in there and close the door."
Player's Perspective – Shelby Echols
"I just knew I had to move Lexi up to third. I was just trying to get Laura up to bat and give Laura a chance to score more runs. I was just happy I got a hit. I was struggling a lot at the plate. Normally, I'm a warning track power hitter, so when I saw it go over, I was really excited."
Player's Perspective – Kamryn Carcich
On setting the single season saves record
"That was my role for my old team, so I've been put in those situations a lot already. Coming in here and having a good defense behind me, being able to trust that they're going to produce, gives me that freedom to do what I need to do for them."
Up Next
The Blue Raiders continue their series against the Roadrunners at Blue Raider Softball Field 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).
Facility tour – Stephen and Denise Smith Student-Athlete Performance Center
Wednesday, July 30
Spring Sports Show hosted by The Boulevard – April 21, 2025: Softball and Baseball
Monday, April 21
MTSU Softball vs WKU Recap 4/11-13/25
Monday, April 14
MTSU Softball vs WKU Recap 4/11-13/25 2025
Monday, April 14
