Middle Tennessee State University Athletics
Wednesday, May 10
Ruston, LA
10:00 AM CT
Middle Tennessee
5
vs
4
Louisiana Tech
Players Mentioned
OF
/ Softball
RHP
/ Softball
2B
/ Softball
OF/INF
/ Softball
OF/UTL
/ Softball
RHP
/ Softball
SS/2B
/ Softball
OF/UTL
/ Softball
MTSU advances to day two of C-USA Softball Championship
5/10/2023 6:33:00 PM | Softball
RUSTON, La. – Middle Tennessee softball (35-18, 14-11 C-USA) eliminated host Louisiana Tech (32-24, 13-11) 5-4 at Dr. Billy Bundrick Field in game one of the Conference USA Championships before dropping a one-run game against defending conference champions North Texas later on Wednesday.
Game 1 – MTSU 5 – LA Tech 4
The Blue Raiders struck first against LA Tech with a double from Laura Mealer and a RBI single by Amaya Harris. Anyce Harvey then doubled to right center to score Harris and give MTSU the early 2-0 lead. The first inning didn't stop there, Shelby Sargent reached on an error that scored Harvey and extended the lead to three runs after the first frame.
Gretchen Mead in the circle fed off the offensive momentum from inning one with a one-two-three inning in the top of the second. In the bottom of the second, Savannah Behabetz reached on a throwing error that advanced her to second and allowed for Ava Tepe to move her over to third. Shelby Echols added to the lead with a sacrifice fly to plate Behabetz.
Mead threw four scoreless innings before the Lady Techsters scored three runs in the fifth inning causing the Blue Raiders to make a pitching change. Kamryn Carcich entered the game and stranded a runner at third to keep the one-run lead for MTSU.
The Blue Raiders answered with a run in the bottom of the fifth on a RBI single from Amaya Harris to make it 5-3 headed into the sixth inning. La Tech scored another run to cut the lead back down to one on a RBI single from Sierra Sacco. Carcich came back out in the seventh to close the game getting her sixth save of the season and the 5-4 win over La Tech.
Game 2 – MTSU 1 – North Texas 2
The Blue Raiders outhit the Mean Green seven to three in the 2-1 loss. Carcich pitched six innings and held North Texas to just two runs on three hits.
Echols got it going early on for the Blue Raiders in game two with a leadoff bunt single that drew an overthrow allowing her to advance to third. Mealer then drove her in with an RBI single for her 48th of the season to lead C-USA.
North Texas took the lead in the top of the second playing small ball. A pair of bunts moved runners into scoring position for one run to score on a groundout to the infield. Three straight scoreless innings for both pitchers kept the game at 2-1 in favor of North Texas headed into the sixth.
In the top of the seventh, Sargent doubled down the line to put runners in scoring position nut the Blue Raiders couldn't capitalize and lost 2-1.
By the Numbers
17: Doubles for Mealer this season to tie her for eighth in the nation.
3: Runs in the first inning by the Blue Raiders against the Conference USA Freshman of the Year.
3: Runs by LA Tech in the fifth inning with a bases-loaded triple.
2: Runners caught stealing by Tepe in game one.
6: Saves for Carcich ranks 15th in the nation.
Quote from Head Coach Jeff Breeden
"We made two errors against a good team and we lost. It stings but tomorrow is a new day and we will bounce back."
Up Next
MTSU will be back at Dr. Billy Bundrick Field in an elimination game on Thursday at 5 p.m. CT and will face the loser of Western Kentucky and Florida Atlantic.
Follow the Blue Raiders
Follow Middle Tennessee Softball on social media on Facebook (Blue Raider Softball), Twitter (@MT_Softball) and Instagram (@mt_softball).
Game 1 – MTSU 5 – LA Tech 4
The Blue Raiders struck first against LA Tech with a double from Laura Mealer and a RBI single by Amaya Harris. Anyce Harvey then doubled to right center to score Harris and give MTSU the early 2-0 lead. The first inning didn't stop there, Shelby Sargent reached on an error that scored Harvey and extended the lead to three runs after the first frame.
Gretchen Mead in the circle fed off the offensive momentum from inning one with a one-two-three inning in the top of the second. In the bottom of the second, Savannah Behabetz reached on a throwing error that advanced her to second and allowed for Ava Tepe to move her over to third. Shelby Echols added to the lead with a sacrifice fly to plate Behabetz.
Mead threw four scoreless innings before the Lady Techsters scored three runs in the fifth inning causing the Blue Raiders to make a pitching change. Kamryn Carcich entered the game and stranded a runner at third to keep the one-run lead for MTSU.
The Blue Raiders answered with a run in the bottom of the fifth on a RBI single from Amaya Harris to make it 5-3 headed into the sixth inning. La Tech scored another run to cut the lead back down to one on a RBI single from Sierra Sacco. Carcich came back out in the seventh to close the game getting her sixth save of the season and the 5-4 win over La Tech.
Game 2 – MTSU 1 – North Texas 2
The Blue Raiders outhit the Mean Green seven to three in the 2-1 loss. Carcich pitched six innings and held North Texas to just two runs on three hits.
Echols got it going early on for the Blue Raiders in game two with a leadoff bunt single that drew an overthrow allowing her to advance to third. Mealer then drove her in with an RBI single for her 48th of the season to lead C-USA.
North Texas took the lead in the top of the second playing small ball. A pair of bunts moved runners into scoring position for one run to score on a groundout to the infield. Three straight scoreless innings for both pitchers kept the game at 2-1 in favor of North Texas headed into the sixth.
In the top of the seventh, Sargent doubled down the line to put runners in scoring position nut the Blue Raiders couldn't capitalize and lost 2-1.
By the Numbers
17: Doubles for Mealer this season to tie her for eighth in the nation.
3: Runs in the first inning by the Blue Raiders against the Conference USA Freshman of the Year.
3: Runs by LA Tech in the fifth inning with a bases-loaded triple.
2: Runners caught stealing by Tepe in game one.
6: Saves for Carcich ranks 15th in the nation.
Quote from Head Coach Jeff Breeden
"We made two errors against a good team and we lost. It stings but tomorrow is a new day and we will bounce back."
Up Next
MTSU will be back at Dr. Billy Bundrick Field in an elimination game on Thursday at 5 p.m. CT and will face the loser of Western Kentucky and Florida Atlantic.
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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