Middle Tennesee State University Athletics
Sunday, April 30
Murfreesboro, TN
12:00 PM CT
Middle Tennessee
33-15, 0
3
vs
1
UTSA
8-38, 0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
R
H
E
UTSA
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
1
3
3
Middle Tennessee
1
0
1
0
1
0
X
3
4
0
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Mead, Gretchen (13-4)
L: SMITH, Reagan (4-15)
Batting:
RBI: LETBETTER, Caton 1
SF: LETBETTER, Caton 1
Base Running:
RUNS: ROBILLARD, Camryn 1
HBP: ESTELL, Marena 1
Batting:
RBI: Gilmore, Riley 2
SH: Echols, Shelby 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Mealer, Laura 1 ; Tepe, Ava 1 ; Harris, Amaya 1
SB: Mealer, Laura 3 ; Tepe, Ava 1 ; Jacoway, Ashlee 1
HBP: Mealer, Laura 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
3
R
0
H
2
RBI
2
AB
3
R
1
H
2
RBI
0
AB
3
R
0
H
0
RBI
0
AB
0
R
1
H
0
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
1B
/ SoftballOF/INF
/ Softball
RHP
/ SoftballSS/2B
/ Softball
Mead’s complete game win highlights final home game of 2023 season
4/30/2023 3:17:00 PM | Softball
Blue Raiders get the sweep of UTSA to secure a winning record in C-USA play.
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — Middle Tennessee softball triumphed in their final home game of the 2023 regular season on Sunday, glancing past UTSA 3-1 at Blue Raider Softball Field to sweep the season series.
The Blue Raiders (33-15, 12-8 C-USA) reached base as many times from walks (4) as they did hits (4) but scrambled enough clutch at-bats and pitches in the circle while taking advantage of three errors to cruise past the Roadrunners (8-38, 3-17 C-USA).
MTSU scored their first run of the game in the bottom of the first for the third game in a row this series, with Laura Mealer stealing a pair of bags after getting hit by a pitch, scoring from third on the final steal when the UTSA catcher's throw sailed into left field.
The offense stayed hot through the heart of the order for the Blue Raiders in the bottom of the third, as Riley Gilmore plated Amaya Harris from second with an RBI-single to right field to stretch MTSU's lead to 2-0. The Roadrunners got one back with a bases-loaded sacrifice fly in the top of the fourth, but the Blue Raiders responded, taking advantage of UTSA's third error of the game to get Ava Tepe on and singling her home with another rip from Gilmore.
Gilmore and Harris finished the game as MTSU's only hitters with a hit on Sunday, each recording two singles on the day. Gretchen Mead, in her final home game as a Blue Raider, tossed her 15th complete game of the year, striking out six Roadrunners, including two in the top of the seventh, to earn her 13th win of 2023.
By the Numbers
12: Wins in C-USA play this season, the most ever for MTSU in their time in Conference USA and the most conference wins in a season since 2007, when MTSU went 14-9 in the Sun Belt.
6: Strikeouts for Gretchen Mead in the circle in her final home start. The fifth-year right-hander is averaging 5.58 Ks per 7 innings this season in the circle.
3: Errors for UTSA on Sunday, resulting in two unearned runs. Those two unearned runs proved (Mealer, Tepe) to be the difference in Game 3 of the series.
Reaction from Head Coach Jeff Breeden
"We had a high energy about us all three games. Our pitchers pitched really well. Kam did and Gretchen did. I'm pleased with what went on. You saw the crowds we had this week. The crowds were huge, our kids did a great job with the young kids that were here.
"I think that everybody was here this weekend, they're going to be looking forward to what's going happen with this team next fall. We're all going to be the same except for one, with some new additions."
Player's Perspective – Riley Gilmore
"It's been an experience. I'm lucky that everyone is believing in me and trusting me to fill in that spot. It's been a little bit difficult because of the pressure, but it's been awesome getting the opportunity to contribute to my team.
"There's been a couple of hiccups along the way, but it's softball, so it's kind of bound to happen. They've just kept on believing in me and it's helped me feel more confident in myself."
Up Next
MTSU will head on the road after exam week to take on North Texas in their final Conference USA series of the 2023 season. Game 1 is scheduled for Friday, May 5 in Denton, Texas, with first pitch scheduled for 6 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 (33-15, 12-8 C-USA) reached base as many times from walks (4) as they did hits (4) but scrambled enough clutch at-bats and pitches in the circle while taking advantage of three errors to cruise past the Roadrunners (8-38, 3-17 C-USA).
MTSU scored their first run of the game in the bottom of the first for the third game in a row this series, with Laura Mealer stealing a pair of bags after getting hit by a pitch, scoring from third on the final steal when the UTSA catcher's throw sailed into left field.
The offense stayed hot through the heart of the order for the Blue Raiders in the bottom of the third, as Riley Gilmore plated Amaya Harris from second with an RBI-single to right field to stretch MTSU's lead to 2-0. The Roadrunners got one back with a bases-loaded sacrifice fly in the top of the fourth, but the Blue Raiders responded, taking advantage of UTSA's third error of the game to get Ava Tepe on and singling her home with another rip from Gilmore.
Gilmore and Harris finished the game as MTSU's only hitters with a hit on Sunday, each recording two singles on the day. Gretchen Mead, in her final home game as a Blue Raider, tossed her 15th complete game of the year, striking out six Roadrunners, including two in the top of the seventh, to earn her 13th win of 2023.
By the Numbers
12: Wins in C-USA play this season, the most ever for MTSU in their time in Conference USA and the most conference wins in a season since 2007, when MTSU went 14-9 in the Sun Belt.
6: Strikeouts for Gretchen Mead in the circle in her final home start. The fifth-year right-hander is averaging 5.58 Ks per 7 innings this season in the circle.
3: Errors for UTSA on Sunday, resulting in two unearned runs. Those two unearned runs proved (Mealer, Tepe) to be the difference in Game 3 of the series.
Reaction from Head Coach Jeff Breeden
"We had a high energy about us all three games. Our pitchers pitched really well. Kam did and Gretchen did. I'm pleased with what went on. You saw the crowds we had this week. The crowds were huge, our kids did a great job with the young kids that were here.
"I think that everybody was here this weekend, they're going to be looking forward to what's going happen with this team next fall. We're all going to be the same except for one, with some new additions."
Player's Perspective – Riley Gilmore
"It's been an experience. I'm lucky that everyone is believing in me and trusting me to fill in that spot. It's been a little bit difficult because of the pressure, but it's been awesome getting the opportunity to contribute to my team.
"There's been a couple of hiccups along the way, but it's softball, so it's kind of bound to happen. They've just kept on believing in me and it's helped me feel more confident in myself."
Up Next
MTSU will head on the road after exam week to take on North Texas in their final Conference USA series of the 2023 season. Game 1 is scheduled for Friday, May 5 in Denton, Texas, with first pitch scheduled for 6 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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