Eight-run second powers Blue Raiders past FIU

Friday, March 15

Miami, Fla.

5:30 p.m. CT / 6:30 p.m. ET

Middle Tennessee

9-8, 1-0

FIU

9-9, 0-1

MTSU

FIU

3/15/2024 8:23:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

By: Thomas Donley, MT Athletics

MIAMI — Middle Tennessee baseball rode an eight-run two-out rally in the second inning to a 12-8 victory Saturday in its Conference USA opener at FIU. Briggs Rutter homered twice and drove in five runs to lead the way.

The Panthers (9-9, 0-1 CUSA) appeared to have a 1-2-3 top of the second in hand, but Brett Vondohlen reached first base after a dropped third strike and a throwing error that pulled the FIU first baseman off the bag. He scored along with Luke Vinson three batters later on Clay Badylak's two-run single. Gabe Jennings plated a run with a single through the left side, followed by a two-run double into the left field corner by Eston Snider.

Rutter launched the first pitch he saw over the left field fence for two more Blue Raider (9-8, 1-0) runs. Phillips sent the very next pitch off the scoreboard for his third in the last two games.
Rutter and Phillips went back-to-back again in the sixth – this time with bases-loaded walks that pushed the Blue Raider lead to 10-2.

Rutter went deep again in the top of the eighth for his second two-run blast of the day, bringing his RBI total to five on the night.

Starting pitcher James Sells provided four innings of two-run work for MTSU. Patrick Johnson went 4.0 innings with five runs charged to his ledger. Chandler Alderman finished off the game, withstanding a four-run FIU ninth inning.

By the Numbers
8: The Blue Raiders' eight-run second inning went down as their highest-scoring inning of the season.
5: Phillips' homer was his team-leading fifth of the year.
5: Rutter's five RBI were the most by a Blue Raider this season and extended his team lead to 23 on the year.

Up Next
The second game of the series is scheduled for 4 p.m. CT Saturday.

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MTSU Baseball's season comes to a close in Georgia

Saturday, May 17

Next Event

FIU

L, 6-11

Mar 16 (Sat)

4:00 p.m. CT / 5:00 p.m. ET

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Team Stats

Pitching:

W: Johnson, Patrick (2-0)

L: KNOX, Cameron (0-2)

MTSU

Batting:

2B: Snider, Eston 1

HR: Rutter, Briggs 2 ; Phillips, Trace 1

RBI: Jennings, Gabe 1 ; Snider, Eston 2 ; Rutter, Briggs 5 ; Phillips, Trace 2 ; Badylak, Clay 2

SH: Vinson, Luke 1

Base Running:

RUNS: Jennings, Gabe 2 ; Snider, Eston 2 ; Rutter, Briggs 2 ; Phillips, Trace 1 ; Vondohlen, Brett 1 ; Vinson, Luke 1 ; Vinson, Cale 2 ; Badylak, Clay 1

FIU

Batting:

2B: FISCHER, Samuel 1

RBI: WEST,Brylan 2 ; LIQUORI, Jeff 1 ; GUIDA, Ryne 1 ; FISCHER, Samuel 2 ; ULLOA, Alex 1 ; MARTINEZ, Andre 1

SF: GUIDA, Ryne 1 ; MARTINEZ, Andre 1

Base Running:

RUNS: WEST,Brylan 1 ; GUIDA, Ryne 1 ; DEARING, Austin 1 ; FRETT, Kishon 1 ; FISCHER, Samuel 1 ; ULLOA, Alex 1 ; CANDELAS, Hector 1 ; MARTINEZ, Andre 1