Middle Tennessee State University Athletics
Middle Tennessee
Miami (OH)
Blue Raiders set to host RedHawks
2/22/2024 3:35:00 PM | Baseball
Feb. 23-25 | Reese Smith Jr. Field | Murfreesboro, Tenn. |
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MIDDLE TENNESSEE BLUE RAIDERS 2-2, 0-0 CUSA |
vs | MIAMI OHIO REDHAWKS 0-4, 0-0 MAC |
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| WATCH: ESPN+ | STATS: LINK | RADIO: WGNS (LINK) | ||||
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – Middle Tennessee is set to host Miami (Ohio) for a three-game series this weekend at The Reese. First pitch is slated for 3 p.m. Friday, followed by 2 p.m. Saturday and 1 p.m. Sunday. The game will air on the Blue Raider Network and broadcast on ESPN+.
Series 2: Middle Tennessee vs. Miami (OH)
» Friday, February 23 - 3 p.m.
» Saturday, February 24 - 2 p.m.
» Sunday, February 25 - 1 p.m.
» Reese Smith Jr. Field
» Murfreesboro, Tenn.
Weekend Promotion
» The first 100 fans to arrive on Friday, receive a Let's Go Blue Rally Towel.
» Each Friday will be Game Night at the Reese – featuring BINGO, Trivia, and more! Fans who participate will have the opportunity to receive special Blue Raider prizes.
» Saturdays will be Salute Saturday. MTSU will feature in-game moments to honor Veterans & Active-Duty Service Members!
» Kids' Days are on Sundays. Kids (11 & under) receive complimentary admission when they wear their youth league jersey and will be invited to run the bases after the game (weather permitting).
All-Time Against Miami (OH)
» Middle Tennessee trails in the all-time series against Miami Ohio 4-3.
Rich History
2023 will mark the 106th season of Blue Raider baseball dating back to 1913. This season will also be the 15th season inside Reese Smith Jr. Field since its most recent makeover, setting itself as one of the premier locations in Conference USA.
Return of the MAC
The Blue Raiders opened the season with a series win against Bowling Green. Now Middle Tennessee will welcome another Mid-American Conference squad Feb. 23-25 in Miami (OH) to Murfreesboro.
Meyers Back for Year Two
Head Coach Jerry Meyers is back for his second season as head coach, after serving in the position a season ago in an interim capacity. Meyers was extended as head baseball coach immediately after the season in May 2023.
Welcome to the 'Boro
Meyers added to his staff in the offseason with the additions of assistant coaches Ryan Huber and Adam Wisniewski. Huber will lead the infield and recruiting operations for the Blue Raiders while Wisniewski will oversee pitching development.
New Faces, New Places
CUSA welcomes four new members for the 2023-24 season. Liberty, New Mexico State, Sam Houston and Jacksonville State all join the league. The Blue Raiders will face all four of these new programs this season.
Picking Up From 2023
The Blue Raiders went to its third consecutive CUSA postseason a season ago, starting 2-0 in a league tournament for the first time since 2006 with wins over UTSA and LA Tech.
Familiar Faces
Five everyday position player starters return from last year, including the entire outfield from 2023. This includes catcher Briggs Rutter, 3B Gabe Jennings, LF Jackson Galloway, CF Luke Vinson and RF Eston Snider. MTSU also brings back its three members of last year's CUSA All-Freshman Team, C/OF Jared Vetetoe and RHPs Patrick Johnson and Ollie Akens.
Portal Power
The Blue Raiders pulled three new RHPs in this offseason from four-year colleges, including Will Jenkins (Belmont), Logan Bogue (Georgia Tech) and Matt Schepel (Western Carolina).
CUSA Scheduling Format
Each team in CUSA plays one (1) three-game series against each other conference foe, for a perfect triple round-robin of 24 games (eight series). All CUSA teams will have two conference bye weekends to fill. MTSU will utilize its open weekends in league play by playing home-and-home series against Binghamton.
Power Foes
MTSU will see three Power 5 opponents in 2023, traveling to Alabama Feb. 20, going to Indiana March 26 and making the trip to Vanderbilt April 9.
Home Sweet Home
The Blue Raiders will play 30 home games in 2024. Middle Tennessee will open the season at home for the first time since 2021, and just the second time since 2019. Additionally, the squad will play seven road games in the state of Tennessee (UT Martin, Vanderbilt, Lipscomb, Tennessee Tech and Austin Peay).
Watch the Raiders
MTSU home games will be on ESPN+ in 2024. Road game broadcasts are subject to the home team's broadcast protocals. WGNS and the Varsity Network App will carry the team's radio broadcasts.
Raiders in the Pros
Two Blue Raiders were selected in the 2023 MLB Draft, and another two were signed to free agent deals, representing the most signed to affiliated pro baseball contracts since 2015. RHP Eriq Swan was picked up by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 4th compensatory round with the No. 137 overall pick. Fellow RHP Jaden Hamm went off the board to the Detroit Tigers in the 5th round at No. 143 overall. The pair were the highest draft picks of any Blue Raider since 2010. After the draft, C/DH Jeremiah Boyd was signed to a free agent deal with the Arizona Diamondbacks and 2B JT Mabry was picked up by the Miami Marlins.
