Middle Tennessee State University Athletics
Saturday, May 13
2:00 PM CT
Middle Tennessee
vs
UAB
Photo by: Matt Posey/MT Athletic Communications
Blue Raiders Set for Final Home Series of 2023
5/11/2023 4:06:00 PM | Baseball
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – Middle Tennessee Baseball returns to Reese Smith Jr. Field for the final time this season.
The Blue Raiders (43-43, 12-12 C-USA) host the UAB Blazers this weekend for a three-game series, with postseason implications on the line. It is also senior weekend for the roster's five veterans, with a pregame ceremony scheduled for Sunday.
First pitch Friday night is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. A Saturday start of 3:00 p.m. is scheduled before the series finale at 1:00 p.m. Sunday.
ESPN+ will broadcast the series, with WGNS 101.9 FM / 1450 AM (Murfreesboro), WGNS 100.5 FM (Smyrna), GoBlueRaiders.com and the Varsity Network App carrying the radio broadcast.
Promotions
» Senior Weekend – Come as we honor C/DH Jeremiah Boyd, 1B DJ Wright, 2B JT Mabry, SS Brett Coker and OF Gino Avros!
» Join in for the final Game Night at the Reese, with 2023 Baseball Trivia!
» Saturday is Fan Appreciation Day | Nine Innings of Winning
Series History
Since 1980, the all-time series between UAB and the Blue Raiders is tied, 45-45. Last season, Middle Tennessee took two of three from the Blazers in Birmingham. JT Mabry went 3-4 in Game 2 of the series to clinch the three-game set on March 26.
Probable Starting Pitchers
RHP Jaden Hamm is slated for a Friday night start. The remaining two sports are TBD.
Standings Watch
With just six games left in the C-USA regular season, MTSU is in a three-way tie for fifth place, with WKU and Florida Atlantic. The Raiders (12-12 C-USA) sit ahead of both teams in the standings via the three-way head-to-head tiebreaker, are one game back LA Tech for fourth, and a game and a half back Charlotte for third.
The Blue Raiders need just one win this weekend to clinch a spot in the C-USA Tournament.
Quick Hitters
MTSU is back in action Friday for the first time since last Sunday. Both non-conference road games scheduled—at SEMO and North Alabama—were canceled for weather-related purposes.
The Blue Raiders combined for 43 hits across three games May 5-7 at Dallas Baptist. In a total team effort offensively, the Raiders got 14 multi-hit performances across the series. Briggs Rutter went 4-5 with a HR in a win May 6 and hit a combined .500 in the series, alongside Jeremiah Boyd. Luke Vinson (.438) excelled in the leadoff spot, JT Mabry (.429, HR) was consistent in the second spot in the order and Brett Coker (.385) was robust in the third spot.
Once counterparts in the weekend rotation, RHPs Jaden Hamm and Eriq Swan have become a promising on-two punch on the mound. Hamm has started each of the past six Game Twos in weekend series, with Swan currently serving as a weapon out of the bullpen as a high-velocity thrower. On April 29 vs. LA Tech, the pair combined for a team season-high 15 strikeouts, with Swan allowing just one baserunner in his first three frames.
RHP James Sells leads the Raiders with six saves this year, three of them coming in a three-game series sweep at rival WKU April 6-8. The sophomore tossed six scoreless frames out of the 'pen against DBU on May 6 in a win.
Scouting the Blazers
At 15-32 overall and 6-18 in C-USA, UAB currently sits in 10th place in the conference standings.
The Blazers dropped the series but took last weekend's finale at LA Tech. UAB suffered a midweek setback on Tuesday against Alabama State, falling 6-5 in Montgomery.
Sophomore outfielder Logan Braunschweig is the squad's leading hitter, with a .322 AVG. All other players sit below .300. Senior Christian Hall has six of UAB's 17 total home runs.
The team's three most used starting pitchers all have ERAs below 5.00. Sophomore LHP Carson Myers leads the rotation with a 3.73 ERA. RHP Blayze Berry follows with a 4.52 clip and a team-high 69.2 innings pitched.
Berry, alongside fellow starting RHP Brooks Walton, have pitched complete games this year. Berry went the full nine innings April 1 in a 2-1 win against Charlotte, while Walton helped lead the Blazers to a 4-2 win over UTSA with just two runs allowed over nine frames.
Next Up
The Raiders are scheduled for a 6:00 p.m. first pitch at Vanderbilt this Tuesday at Hawkins Field. The last C-USA series will follow, with games at Charlotte May 18-20.
Follow the Blue Raiders
Stay up to date with the Blue Raiders on Twitter (@MT_Baseball), Facebook (Blue Raider Baseball) and Instagram (@MT_Baseball).
The Blue Raiders (43-43, 12-12 C-USA) host the UAB Blazers this weekend for a three-game series, with postseason implications on the line. It is also senior weekend for the roster's five veterans, with a pregame ceremony scheduled for Sunday.
First pitch Friday night is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. A Saturday start of 3:00 p.m. is scheduled before the series finale at 1:00 p.m. Sunday.
ESPN+ will broadcast the series, with WGNS 101.9 FM / 1450 AM (Murfreesboro), WGNS 100.5 FM (Smyrna), GoBlueRaiders.com and the Varsity Network App carrying the radio broadcast.
Promotions
» Senior Weekend – Come as we honor C/DH Jeremiah Boyd, 1B DJ Wright, 2B JT Mabry, SS Brett Coker and OF Gino Avros!
» Join in for the final Game Night at the Reese, with 2023 Baseball Trivia!
» Saturday is Fan Appreciation Day | Nine Innings of Winning
Series History
Since 1980, the all-time series between UAB and the Blue Raiders is tied, 45-45. Last season, Middle Tennessee took two of three from the Blazers in Birmingham. JT Mabry went 3-4 in Game 2 of the series to clinch the three-game set on March 26.
Probable Starting Pitchers
RHP Jaden Hamm is slated for a Friday night start. The remaining two sports are TBD.
Standings Watch
With just six games left in the C-USA regular season, MTSU is in a three-way tie for fifth place, with WKU and Florida Atlantic. The Raiders (12-12 C-USA) sit ahead of both teams in the standings via the three-way head-to-head tiebreaker, are one game back LA Tech for fourth, and a game and a half back Charlotte for third.
The Blue Raiders need just one win this weekend to clinch a spot in the C-USA Tournament.
Quick Hitters
MTSU is back in action Friday for the first time since last Sunday. Both non-conference road games scheduled—at SEMO and North Alabama—were canceled for weather-related purposes.
The Blue Raiders combined for 43 hits across three games May 5-7 at Dallas Baptist. In a total team effort offensively, the Raiders got 14 multi-hit performances across the series. Briggs Rutter went 4-5 with a HR in a win May 6 and hit a combined .500 in the series, alongside Jeremiah Boyd. Luke Vinson (.438) excelled in the leadoff spot, JT Mabry (.429, HR) was consistent in the second spot in the order and Brett Coker (.385) was robust in the third spot.
Once counterparts in the weekend rotation, RHPs Jaden Hamm and Eriq Swan have become a promising on-two punch on the mound. Hamm has started each of the past six Game Twos in weekend series, with Swan currently serving as a weapon out of the bullpen as a high-velocity thrower. On April 29 vs. LA Tech, the pair combined for a team season-high 15 strikeouts, with Swan allowing just one baserunner in his first three frames.
RHP James Sells leads the Raiders with six saves this year, three of them coming in a three-game series sweep at rival WKU April 6-8. The sophomore tossed six scoreless frames out of the 'pen against DBU on May 6 in a win.
Scouting the Blazers
At 15-32 overall and 6-18 in C-USA, UAB currently sits in 10th place in the conference standings.
The Blazers dropped the series but took last weekend's finale at LA Tech. UAB suffered a midweek setback on Tuesday against Alabama State, falling 6-5 in Montgomery.
Sophomore outfielder Logan Braunschweig is the squad's leading hitter, with a .322 AVG. All other players sit below .300. Senior Christian Hall has six of UAB's 17 total home runs.
The team's three most used starting pitchers all have ERAs below 5.00. Sophomore LHP Carson Myers leads the rotation with a 3.73 ERA. RHP Blayze Berry follows with a 4.52 clip and a team-high 69.2 innings pitched.
Berry, alongside fellow starting RHP Brooks Walton, have pitched complete games this year. Berry went the full nine innings April 1 in a 2-1 win against Charlotte, while Walton helped lead the Blazers to a 4-2 win over UTSA with just two runs allowed over nine frames.
Next Up
The Raiders are scheduled for a 6:00 p.m. first pitch at Vanderbilt this Tuesday at Hawkins Field. The last C-USA series will follow, with games at Charlotte May 18-20.
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
3B/OF
/ Baseball
C
/ Baseball
SS
/ Baseball
RHP
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C
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RHP
/ Baseball
OF/LHP
/ Baseball
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