Hot start at the plate and strong pitching pushes Blue Raiders past Redhawks

Tuesday, March 5

Cape Girardeau, Mo.

3:00 p.m. CT

Middle Tennessee

6-6

SEMO

6-8

Middle Tennessee

SEMO

Jackson Galloway arrives at first base in a game against Miami (OH)

Photo by: Emily Cole/MT Athletic Communications

3/5/2024 7:00:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

MTSU scored seven runs in the first three innings to cruise past SEMO on Tuesday.

By: Sam Doughton | MTSU Athletic Communications

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. — Middle Tennessee baseball batted around the order twice in the game's first three innings, jumping out to an early lead to never trail in their midweek matchup against Southeast Missouri, winning 8-2 at Capaha Field on Tuesday afternoon.

The Blue Raiders (6-6) scored in the first inning after leadoff hitter Gabe Jennings singled, Trace Philips sacrifice bunted him to second and Briggs Rutter drove in the speedy third baseman with a single to left field. The Redhawks (6-8) were not in real trouble, however, until MTSU plated five runs in the top of the second on just three hits, taking advantage of a hit-by-pitch and two walks to put on extra base runners in an inning highlighted by Jackson Galloway's bases-loaded, 3-RBI triple that gave MTSU a 6-0 lead.

SEMO would strike back with a two-run homer in the bottom of the frame, but MTSU was again able to fight back, scratching across a run in the top of the third when Eston Snider went first-to-third on a single and then scored on a Clay Badylak groundout. That 7-2 advantage would hold until the top of the sixth, when Galloway earned his fourth RBI of the day after getting hit-by-pitch with the bases loaded.

The Redhawks got out of that jam and kept the Blue Raiders off the scoreboard the rest of the way, but the continued great work of the Blue Raider pitching staff kept the lead staple until the final pitch. Bryant Beranek had an excellent start on the mound, allowing just two earned runs in four innings of work with two strikeouts. Patrick Johnson was even better in relief, tossing five scoreless frames while striking out four Redhawks and allowing just three hits.

Cale Vinson led all Blue Raiders with three hits on Tuesday, going 3-for-5 at the plate with an RBI, a double and a stolen base. Galloway finished the afternoon 2-for-4 with a double, a triple and four RBIs. Gabe Jennings was the perfect table setter at the top of the lineup, going 2-for-4 while scoring a team-high three runs. Trace Phillips and Luke Vinson also recorded multi-hit games against SEMO.

By the Numbers

4.45: How many runs Patrick Johnson dropped off his ERA following his five shutout innings on Tuesday. The sophomore right-hander entered Tuesday with an 8.31 ERA through 4.1 innings on the year. He ended Tuesday with a 3.86 ERA this season.

0: Errors committed by the Blue Raiders on Tuesday, their first errorless game this season.

2: Walks issued by the Blue Raider pitching staff on Tuesday, tied for the fewest free bases allowed in a game this season.

Up Next

The Blue Raiders return home to Reese Smith Jr. Field to start a four-game series against St. Bonaventure this weekend, with one game on Friday, a doubleheader on Saturday and one game on Sunday. First pitch on Friday is scheduled for is set for 3 p.m. on ESPN+ and the Blue Raider Radio Network.

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